Legendary Italian free diver Enzo Maiorca has died at the age of 85 in his hometown of Syracuse, Sicily.
Enzo Maiorca pic.twitter.com/4YerqU7kGm— Alessandro Gassmann (@GassmanGassmann) November 13, 2016
He held many diving records and his rivalry with fellow free diver Jacques Mayol inspired the 1988 film ‘Le Grand Bleu’ directed by Luc Besson
Maiorca took exception to way he was portrayed in the film by French actor Jean Reno and he fought to have the film banned in Italy.
Though he liked the movie he was angered by the artistic licence taken with his character and was offended by the uneducated Mafioso label.
Addio a Enzo Maiorca. Se ne è andato un grande ambientalista, compagno di tante battaglie. pic.twitter.com/c2ZEybAToi— Legambiente Onlus (@Legambiente) November 13, 2016
Following the death of Mayol and his retirement from competitive diving Maiorca relented and the film was released in Italy in 2002.
Le Grand Bleu pleure son «Enzo» https://t.co/JYQFKcxExv pic.twitter.com/aHZQ8stLyK— Sport24 (@Sport24Team) November 13, 2016
