ELBA, Italy (24 Dec 2001) -- French diver Jacques Mayol, the inspiration for Luc Besson's film The Big Blue, committed suicide at his villa on the island of Elba in Italy. Police said Mayol, 74, hanged himself on Saturday, December 22, and a close friend found the body on Sunday, December 23. Mayol reportedly was under medical treatment for depression. In 1976, Mayol become the first man to reach a depth of 100 meters (330 ft) on a single breath. In 1983 at the age of 56, Mayol bettered his own record reaching 105 meters (345 ft). Many consider Mayol the father of the sport of free-diving. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK | | |
