America's Cup hero Alan Bond has died in a Perth hospital
Last Updated: 05/06/15 9:51am
Alan Bond, the man who famously funded Australia’s historic victory at the 1983 America’s Cup, has died at the age of 77.
The businessman died on Friday morning in Perth’s Fiona Stanley Hospital, following heart surgery earlier this week.
His son John said: "Dad passed away this morning about an hour ago. His body finally gave out after heroic efforts of everyone involved here at the intensive care unit.
"He never regained consciousness after his surgery on Tuesday. And has been on life support since that time."
Hammersmith-born Bond backed the Australian II syndicate to America's Cup glory in September 1983, to break the New York Yacht Club's 132-year grip on the trophy.
Bond, however, fell from grace, and after being declared bankrupt in the early 1990s, he later spent four years in prison after being found guilty of what was described as Australia's biggest case of corporate fraud.
