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Aussie Instagram model’s mystery death: Autopsy to be released

A GREEK coroner has completed an autopsy on the body of Instagram bikini model Sinead McNamara, who died aboard a luxury superyacht, but it will give no comfort to her shocked family.

The mystery over what happened to an Australian model found dead ( Sunrise )

A GREEK coroner has completed an autopsy on the body of Instagram bikini model Sinead McNamara, but it will give no comfort to her shocked family.

News Corp understands the coroner has found Ms McNamara’s injuries are consistent with hanging - but foul play has not yet been ruled out.

Ms McNamara was spotted entangled in a rope dangling from the back of the vessel.

The official autopsy report is yet to be released.

Ms McNamara’s body is due to be flown home later today, the Daily Mail reported.

The 20 year old had been working aboard the luxury yacht “Mayan Queen IV”.

Australian model Sinead McNamara was found dead on billionaire Alberto Bailleres’ $194 million yacht. Picture: Instagram
Australian model Sinead McNamara was found dead on billionaire Alberto Bailleres’ $194 million yacht. Picture: Instagram

Meanwhile, the superyacht at the centre of the investigation has left Greece.

There were initially conflicting reports on where and how she was found, with some saying she was found in a comatose state in a cabin and other saying she was dangling from the rear of the vessel.

Statements were taken from all crew, which can number 24, before the ship was allowed to leave the port of Argostoli on Sunday afternoon.

The six-storey ship (valued at $A194 million), is travelling north of Sicily.

The Instagram star, from Port Macquarie in New South Wales, had been working on Mexican billionaire Alberto Bailleres’ yacht for four months, when she was found unconscious by crew members last week.

Sinead McNamara had been working on Alberto Bailleres’ yacht. Picture: Supplied
Sinead McNamara had been working on Alberto Bailleres’ yacht. Picture: Supplied

Authorities contacted by News Corp said initial evidence pointed to the possibility that the young woman had taken her own life, but that has not been confirmed.

Dimitri Mantalvanos, who is staying directly opposite where the boat was anchored, said he saw “a lot of commotion” on Friday morning.

“Then some of them (crew) started scrubbing the floor and cleaning the outside (yacht),” he said.

The American said he saw The Port Authority, which is running the investigation, going “back and forth” to the yacht and their office on the mainland.

British teenager Ruby Voller, who is doing bar work on the Lady O which docked near the Queen Mayan IV, said the incident had sent shockwaves through the local industry.

“It’s such a big thing, she’s just died,” the 17-year-old said.

“All my friends were worried about me.”

Sinead McNamara has left friends and colleagues devastated. Picture: Instagram
Sinead McNamara has left friends and colleagues devastated. Picture: Instagram

Ms Voller said Kefalonia was typically a quiet island.

“Even [during the] evening it’s not manic at all,” she said.

“It’s not your party island, it’s relaxed.”

According to local reports the crew, a doctor, and Port officials tried to resuscitate Ms McNamara, when she was discovered in distress in the early hours of Friday.

She was taken by helicopter to a private hospital in Athens, but could not be saved.

Ms McNamara’s mother Kylie and her sister Lauren were on their way to Greece for a family catch up when they were told of the tragedy.

The model was taken by helicopter to a private hospital in Athens, but could not be saved. Picture: Instagram
The model was taken by helicopter to a private hospital in Athens, but could not be saved. Picture: Instagram

Days earlier, Ms McNamara wrote about her “excitement” on Facebook about meeting up with her family.

She had been frequently documenting her trip on Instagram, with the bikini-clad model uploading a cryptic message two weeks earlier.

“My head is all over the shop today,” she wrote alongside an image of herself on a quad bike with emojis of a volcano and a needle with blood dripping from it.

Mr Bailleres, a mining magnate, had been holidaying on the boat, which had docked at Amorgos, Naxos, Paros and Thira, before he and his family returned to Mexico last Tuesday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Ms McNamara’s family.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636. If it is an emergency please call 000.

Originally published as Aussie Instagram model’s mystery death: Autopsy to be released

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/aussie-instagram-models-mystery-death-autopsy-to-be-released/news-story/ce20c4869953f3fc8a6d3dc0393256df