British father dies on Turkish pirate-ship trip as foam party continues, family says crew failed to act

A British father died on a holiday pirate-ship trip in Alanya, Turkey, after disappearing in the water during a second swim stop on a popular excursion along the coast. Peter Colville, 60, was aboard the Legend Big Kral, a £200 “luxury pirate” boat listed with DJs, entertainment, snorkelling and a foam party for roughly 600 guests. Family members say he was found unresponsive in the sea and that staff on board did not provide timely assistance, with varying accounts of what happened as the vessel continued its program after the incident.

Colville, a property maintenance professional from Woking, Surrey, was part of a family group that included ten relatives on the weeklong trip. The voyage departed with a large contingent on July 27, and the incident occurred at Cleopatra Beach during the afternoon swim stop. According to witnesses, crew members and passengers attempted to render aid as others pulled Colville from the water. A lifeguard or on-board staff member reportedly attempted to revive him with CPR while co- passengers helped, but family members say the initial responders were not given clear direction and that staff offered little immediate assistance. The coastguard arrived, and Colville was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The family contends that, after Colville was pulled from the water, staff covered his body with a towel and then proceeded with the on-board foam party, apologizing to other passengers that the party would be delayed. Nakita Colville, 27, one of Peter Colville’s daughters, said her family witnessed what she described as “unbothered and clueless” staff. She recalled that, once her father disappeared, there was panic among other guests, while crew members reportedly crossed their arms rather than taking swift action. The barman asked others to stop helping and announced the delay to the foam party, according to Nakita Colville, who said she later had to relay the news to her siblings by phone.

The family’s account is echoed by other witnesses who criticized the sequence of events aboard the vessel. Nakita Colville described the moment her father became unresponsive as the crew stood by. She said the family’s pleas for medical attention were met with delays and that the ship continued its program while passengers expressed distress. Some on board later posted reviews online alleging inadequate emergency procedures, with one reviewer stating that a crew member seemed to determine the situation as “over” before the proceedings were concluded, while the foam party persisted and photos were still being taken for sale.

The Colville family had travelled with relatives to Alanya from July 20, staying in the region as the event unfolded. They estimate the boat carried more than 600 guests, though the Legend Big Kral’s own TripAdvisor listing cites a capacity of up to 1,200. After the incident, some family members and other passengers were taken ashore, and the foam party continued for those who remained on the deck, according to several witness accounts cited by relatives and online reviews.

Postmortems were conducted in both Turkey and the United Kingdom, but the cause of death has not yet been determined. Investigators have not publicly disclosed findings, and authorities have said inquiries are ongoing. The family said they hope the investigations will clarify what happened and whether safety protocols on the vessel were followed. UK-based observers noted that vessels in regular operation carrying large numbers of passengers are expected to carry life-saving equipment, including defibrillators, under maritime safety guidance, though it was not specified whether such equipment was used during Colville’s death.

The incident has drawn attention to the handling of emergencies on large tourist boats in Turkey, particularly those offering theme-park-style experiences at sea. Some patrons and relatives have voiced concerns on travel-review platforms, describing a lack of visible, timely medical response and a continuation of entertainment activities during an emergency. Such accounts may not reflect official investigations, but they illustrate the distress experienced by families and other guests in the aftermath of the incident.

Big Kral Pirate Boats did not respond to a request for comment on the incident or the allegations raised by the Colville family. The Turkish coastguard and local authorities have not publicly released detailed findings, and representatives for the operator have not provided a statement at this time. Peter Colville is survived by his wife, Rosalind, 53, and their children and grandchildren, whose plans for the family holiday were overshadowed by the tragedy.

The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety procedures on tourist vessels operating in Turkish waters. Journalists and researchers say that incidents involving foreign nationals on leisure cruises frequently hinge on the effectiveness of on-board medical response, crew training, and the speed with which authorities or local medical services are engaged. Authorities have stressed the importance of risk assessment and appropriate medical equipment for vessels carrying hundreds of passengers, and they have urged operators to review and reinforce emergency protocols in light of any events that undermine traveler confidence.

As investigators continue to evaluate all aspects of the accident, the Colville family continues to mourn while seeking clarity on whether corrective steps are necessary to prevent a recurrence. The case underscores the dangers sometimes associated with high-energy tourist excursions and the imperative of swift, well-coordinated medical response when emergencies arise at sea.