32-year-old British chief stewardess found dead aboard superyacht in Italy

A 32-year-old British woman has been found dead aboard La Polonia in Imperia along the Italian Riviera.

Notting Hill-born Rebecca Boyle was working as a chief stewardess aboard the superyacht, which is undergoing a changeover ahead of a new arrival. She had reportedly been working on La Polonia for a week but was an experienced superyacht crewmember.

Her body was discovered by fellow crewmembers at around 7:00am local time on 4th July after she failed to turn up for breakfast. Paramedics and police were called but Boyle was declared dead at the scene.

Speaking to U.K. newspaper The Sun, a spokesperson for the local police force said, “We have seen the reports that she was out celebrating England's win in town but at this stage we cannot say if drink played a part because no autopsy has been carried out. At this stage it is too early to say and her death is being treated as unexplained.”

An autopsy, to be performed by coroner Claude Orengo, is taking place to establish a cause of death. Local media are reporting that Boyle died from head injuries sustained during a fall.

A police investigation is ongoing, and crew of both La Polonia and Dynamic, a superyacht which was moored alongside La Polonia, have been questioned about the circumstances leading to the woman’s death. There is currently no implication of criminal wrongdoing, but police haven’t yet ruled out the possibility of third-party involvement.

La Polonia – ‘The Poland’ – was built in 1999 by U.S.-based company Swiftships. The 46.8-metre (154-foot) superyacht was refitted in 2014, according to Yacht Charter Fleet, and is valued at £6 million. She reportedly costs £150,000 per week to charter, and can house up to 10 guests and seven crewmembers.

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