Police in Chania, Crete, said that an investigation was taking place into the death of a British man described by locals as an “eccentric Englishman”
The body of Hugh Kerr Bradley Roberts, 74, was found by fishermen in the port of Souda. One of his hands was “tied to the deck” of his sunken sailing ship, according to reports. His dog survived the sinking and was found desperately clinging to the mast.
His family told the Sun they fear that Mr Roberts, who had been living in Crete for 12 years, has been murdered over a row which had to do with property developments.
Mr Roberts lived alone with his dog following the death of his partner, Deborah Hollis, three years ago.
His 100-year-old luxury yacht, the Coral of Cowes, estimated to be worth 1 million pounds, was found partially sunken at the docks where it was permanently moored.
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“We find it difficult to believe that a yacht that is 30 metres in length can sink easily,” an officer told the Guardian, requesting anonymity. “Our inquiry is obviously focused on the wreckage and whether there is any evidence to suggest it was deliberately submerged. It’s perplexing.”
Crete’s coroner Panaghiotis Milionakis is expected to release the results of an autopsy on Tuesday (local time). There are no visible injuries on the body, however coast guard officials are not excluding foul play.
Mr Roberts’ dog was in a “state of shock” according to Efi Tsekmesoglou of the animal welfare society in Chania. She states that there have been calls from around the world asking to take him in. Mr Roberts also owned 12 cats and three dogs on a huge estate.
“He was very eccentric and appeared to be wealthy,” an editor at a local online news outlet told the Guardian. “Apparently he had had made a lot of money in stocks and shares.”
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Mr Roberts had been robbed on his boat two years ago by assailants who had left him tied up by the feet, reported Iefimerida.