Bloomsbury Boss Dies in Tragic Amalfi Coast Boat Crash
Adrienne Vaughan, 45, president of Bloomsbury Publishing’s US branch, has died in a horrific boating accident off Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast. The seasoned publisher was thrown overboard and fatally struck by a motorboat propeller as she, her husband, and their two kids headed towards Positano.
Wedding Party Horror Caught on Camera
The motorboat crashed into a sailboat packed with over 80 US and German wedding guests. A guest filming the dance floor captured the chilling moment Vaughan struggled for her life in the water. Despite frantic rescue efforts and being rushed to a nearby dock, she died before airlifted emergency services arrived, reported Italian state TV.
Family Injured But Children Safe
- Vaughan’s husband, Mike White, suffered a shoulder injury and was hospitalised.
- Their two young children escaped unscathed.
- No one aboard the sailboat was hurt.
Skipper Tests Positive for Substance, Under Investigation
The motorboat’s 30-year-old Italian skipper tested positive for substance use — alcohol or drugs not yet confirmed. He also sustained broken ribs and a fractured pelvis in the smash. Amalfi coast guard are probing the incident but have yet to release details.
Publishing Titan Remembered with Great Respect
Vaughan was a top industry figure, holding a master’s in business from NYU and a glittering career with Disney Book Group and Oxford University Press before joining Bloomsbury in 2020. She became president in 2021 and served on the Association of American Publishers board.
“Adrienne’s extraordinary leadership and passion for authors and readers will be sorely missed,” said Julia Reidhead and Maria A. Pallante of the Association of American Publishers.
