DATELINE: 23 December, 2001

JACQUES MAYOL FOUND DEAD
The body of the freediving hero Jacques Mayol was found by a neighbour on 22 December at his villa on the island of Elba. Italian police have intimated that the cause of death is suicide.
Mayol was widely known as the man inspired Luc Besson's cult film The Big Blue. He was the first freediver to achieve a depth in excess of 100m (330ft). He retired in 1983.

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