Champion undersea diver commits suicide

Record-setting free-dive champion Jacques Mayol, who inspired the film The Big Blue, committed suicide at his villa on the island of Elba.

Paramilitary police in Capoliveri, say he had taken his own life, but refused to disclose details.

Italian news reports say a neighbour had found the body after going to check on him when Mayol didn't answer the phone several times.

According to reports, a forensic expert determined Mr Mayol, known as the "dolphin man," had died on 22 December.

Jacques Mayol's family in Nice, France, were informed by police of the suicide.

"I saw him the last time in the middle of November, right in his house on Elba, and he seemed to be down," Italian diver Umberto Pelizzari was quoted as saying in a telephone interview from Brazil.

Pelizzari, himself a record-setting free diver, said the Frenchman suffered from depression.

"Whoever loves the sea recognised in Mayol the figure of a courageous and unique pioneer, thanks to whom was born the beautiful and emotional sporting discipline that is free diving," diver Gianluca Genoni said.

Mayol was the first free diver to plunge below 330ft in 1976.

In 1983 he quit after setting a record of 345ft.

The 1988 Luc Besson film The Big Blue was inspired by Mayol's rivalry with Italian champion Enzo Maiorca.