dilek ertekA wealthy 71-year-old Turkish distributor of luxury jewelry Tiffany & Co., died after falling from a Norwegian cruise ship on October 26 under mysterious circumstances. The Daily Mail reported Tuesday.
His body has yet to be recovered and experts are reportedly stumped at the puzzle of how the 5’2” Ertek could have fallen over a 3-foot railing. on the ship in the South Pacific off the coast of Tahiti. His son, Gokce Atuk, said that jewels had disappeared from the safe in the cabin of his mother, the Mail informed.
Ertek had been celebrating his birthday on the Norwegian Spirit ship while vacationing in the South Sea Islands with a partner at the time of his death.
According to the Turkish news source Hürriyet Daily NewsCCTV footage from the cruise ship indicates that Ertek fell from the liner around 3 a.m. on the 26th. His 74-year-old companion did not report him missing until 20 hours later, prompting the ship’s crew to keep the man under observation. unidentified Swiss until the ship docked in Tahiti three days later, the Hürriyet Daily News reported.
“The balconies are made entirely of glass and have railings. His height easily reaches the chest level of a medium-sized person.“
— Unnamed ship’s officer
Ertek’s partner was next questioned by Tahiti police before finally being released for lack of evidence, the daily mail reports, and Ertek’s lawyers are now filing a lawsuit against the cruise operator, in addition to arguing that it is the responsibility of the country of Tahiti to continue leading the investigation into the circumstances of his death.
According to the Turkish media outlet Sabah, an unnamed officer who works on the Norwegian Spirit cruise ship has been speaking out about Ertek’s death on social media. “Security on board is a really important issue,” the officer said. “Precautions are taken into consideration from the shipbuilding phase. The balconies are made entirely of glass and have railings. His height easily reaches the chest level of a medium-sized person. It is not possible to fall. To jump you have to make an effort because it is not easy to step on [the balcony]. you have to follow [a] chair It is also unlikely that someone intoxicated will fall”.
Ertek reportedly began building his fortune in 1995 when he opened the first Tiffany & Co. store in Istanbul, Turkey, and later served as a key distributor of the brand’s luxury jewelry in his home country for more than two decades.
“On Wednesday, October 1, 2022, on January 25, 2022, Norwegian Spirit was notified that a 68-year-old female guest fell overboard while the ship was sailing in the Pacific Ocean en route to French Polynesia,” said a Norwegian Cruise spokesperson. Line to The Daily Beast on Tuesday. “Authorities have been notified and the United States Coast Guard has conducted a search and rescue operation. The investigation is ongoing and we will share updates as appropriate. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”
The Daily Beast has contacted Tiffany & Co. for comment.
