December 24, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 8, 1422

ROME, Dec 23: Legendary French diver Jacques Mayol, who inspired the deep sea adventure film “The Big Blue”, was found dead after hanging himself in his Mediterranean home.

Mayol, who had also held several world records in free diving without the use of a breathing apparatus, was discovered by a neighbour in the town of Calone on the island of Elba, they said.

His Italian friend and rival Umberto Pelizzari said the 74-year-old Mayol had been depressed in recent months.

“He said he felt alone but never did I imagine he would do something like this,” Pelizzari told the Italian news agency Ansa from Brazil. “I considered him my master.”—AFP