CEO of the American arm of Bloomsbury Publishing Adrienne Vaughan has died in a tragic boating accident. Vaughan started working for Bloomsbury US in 2020, and served the last two years as president. The incident occurred off Italy’s Amalfi Coast on August 4th. Vaughan and her family were riding a motorboat that collided with a sailing vessel. Her husband and two children survived the accident. Vaughan’s death is currently being investigated by the Prosecutor’s office in Salerno.
Vaughan was the president of Bloomsbury US, the American arm of Bloomsbury Publishing in the UK. Bloomsbury is the publishing house that printed the Harry Potter series.
The sailing company confirmed a 45 meter boat, the Tortuga, was carrying 80 guests at the time of the accident. The guest included tourist from America and Germany. Initial toxicology reports showed the captain of the Tortuga was clear of drugs. The skipper for the motorboat Vaughan and her family were on, had alcohol levels above the legal limit.
The incident occurred around 6pm as both vessels approached the Fiordo di Furore area of the Amalfi Coast. The Salerno prosecutor’s office confirms that Vaughan was thrown into the water. She died due to injuries sustained from the Tortuga’s propellers. Though she received treatment on scene and at an emergency room in Castiglione, she died before she could be airlifted to Salerno. Both boats are currently sequestered by the Salerno Port Authority for investigation.
