Sinead McNamara’s family reveal call before death
Ms McNamara's family want answers from Greek authorities. Photo: Instagram
Australian woman Sinead McNamara made a distressing call to her family shortly before being found unconscious aboard a luxury yacht it has been revealed, as her parents demand answers from Greek authorities.
Ms McNamara “was crying and referring to an incident that took place onboard with another crew member” in calls to her mother and brother, the family’s Greek lawyer Haralambos Triandafylopoulos said in a statement Thursday night.
The statement did not give any further details about the alleged incident.
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 yacht early Friday as it lay anchored near Kefalonia.
Mr Triandafylopoulos said Ms McNamara’s family want to learn from Greek authorities what happened on the yacht a few minutes before their daughter was found.
He said the family insisted Ms McNamara appeared happy and in a good mental state in previous conversations.
“The parents also declare that Sinead did not have any problems, she was communicating with her family often and she was happy,” the statement said.
“In two days she was going to return to her family and friends in Australia. For the above reasons the family find it crucial that the conditions of her death be thoroughly investigated,” Mr Triandafylopoulos said.
According to the Athens Macedonian 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.
Greek coroner Ilias Bogiokas said on Wednesday that a final 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”.
No suicide note is believed to have been found on board the vessel.
Greek media reported Ms McNamara was still alive when found, but attempts to revive her on the boat and in a hospital were unsuccessful.
She was reportedly in the hospital for several hours before a helicopter could transfer her to a private clinic in Athens. She died during the flight.
Mr Triandafylopoulos said Ms McNamara’s family was seeking an explanation from Greek authorities for a “long delay between the time of the unfortunate incident, to Sinead’s transfer to an Athens hospital” when “every minute was critical to her life”.
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.
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-with agencies
