An entrepreneur died in front of his son after being sucked into a boat propeller in the Mediterranean, according to reports. Andrea Bruglia was sailing on his boat with his son Alessandro and three friends off Ancona’s Marina Dorica, Italy, last Thursday (August 28) evening when the incident happened.

It is believed the 62-year-old ended up in the water after he was hit in the head by the sailboat’s boom which had swung following a sudden gust of wind. Mr Bruglia was knocked unconscious and was then dragged into the propeller where he suffered significant injuries to his head and arms, dying almost instantly. Mr Bruglia’s son reportedly attempted to resuscitate him after diving into the water.

The coastguard were deployed and brought them ashore, with Alessandro, who was in deep shock, rushed to hospital.

An official from the Ancona Port Authority said it was a “maritime accident”, according to local media Ancona Today. 

Matteo Verrigni said: “The vessel was undamaged. The crew had departed from Croatia in good weather, but upon arriving in Ancona, there was a sudden change in sea conditions, causing the victim to fall from the vessel. 

“Our patrol boat arrived within 10 minutes of the crew raising the alarm by calling 112. Arriving on the scene, it rescued two people from the sea: the son and the father.”

Local reports say they had been returning from a holiday.

Mr Bruglia, known by friends as ‘Benca’, was a lifelong sailor and ran a successful medical supplies company.

His funeral was held in Ancona, a city on Italy’s eastern Adriatic coast, on Monday morning.

A friend and local councillor paid tribute to Mr Bruglia, describing him as an “exceptional person”.

The entrepreneur reportedly owned a 13-metre yacht with three cabins and in recent years, launched a project promoting sustainable sailing holidays.