Coroner reveals Sinead McNamara’s cause of death, but mystery remains
A final determination into Ms McNamara's death with await lab results. Photo: Instagram
Greek authorities have revealed the cause of Australian woman Sinead McNamara’s death, but say the exact circumstance of the tragedy may take weeks to determine.
The 20-year-old Instagram model was on the final day of a four-month stint working as a crew member on the Mayan Queen IV when she died on board the luxury yacht early Friday as it lay anchored near Kefalonia.
Greek coroner Ilias Bogiokas, who conducted the autopsy on Ms McNamara’s body, told the Athens Macedonian News Agency that the Port Macquarie woman died from hanging and that her body did not have any injuries.
Ms McNamara was found hanging from a rope at the rear of the Mayan Queen IV while the vessel was moored in the port of Argostoli in Kefalonia.
According to the Greek news agency, initial evidence gathered by the coast guard, who took statements from about 23 crew members and examined CCTV video footage from the yacht, seem to indicate Ms McNamara took her own life, but the investigation has not been completed.
The coroner said the final a cause of death will not be announced until lab tests are completed, which could take a month or more.
Mr Boyiokas told CNN that examinations of Ms McNamara’s body showed “no visible signs of struggle or physical abuse”, but that marks left by a rope were found on her neck.
Greek media reported Ms McNamara was still alive when found, but attempts to revive her on the boat and in a hospital were unsuccessful.
No suicide note is believed to have been found on board the vessel.
Ms McNamara had been working as a stewardess on the six-storey vessel owned by Mexican mining mogul and billionaire Alberto Bailleres.
She was to have met up with her mother and sister who had been on their way to Greece at the time. They are expected to accompany her body back to Australia in the coming days.
The $US140 million ($194 million) yacht was allowed to leave Greek waters Monday after investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the vessel and interviewed the crew, Greek media reported.
Ms McNamara who had more than 14,000 Instagram followers, posted last month that while she enjoyed living and working on the yacht, she was looking forward to returning to Australia.
“Yep I think I have it pretty good. Today’s a day for being grateful anddd (sic) it’s less then a month till I get to see my family & friends in Aus. Excitement overload!” she posted.
Members of the Bailleres family – which owns one of the world’s largest silver mines and Mexico’s second-largest mining company – had reportedly been on the yacht, but had left to return to Mexico days before the incident.
Authorities confirmed that only crew members were on board the ship when Ms McNamara’s body was found.
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-with AAP
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