Chris Packer in a coma in Perth hospital

by John Flint, Sunday Times and Sail-World on 30 Apr 2006 Top New Zealand sailor and adventurer, Chris Packer, is reported to be fighting for his life after suffering a massive heart attack.

The Perth based Sunday Times newspaper says the former yachting champion was last night in a coma at Fremantle Hospital. He is not expected to survive.

Chris Packer (53) is said to have suffered a heart attack while playing golf last Sunday lunchtime.

His girlfriend Gianna Botto, who was on an around-the-world voyage with Chris, has been at his bedside this week.

The Sunday Times reports that his brother, Tony Packer, yesterday said it had been a horrific week for his family including his elderly parents. He confirmed Chris Packer was in a coma.

The Sunday Times understands Chris Packer's luxury boat Lissa, a converted grain carrier, is moored in Fremantle.

The 55m vessel has been Packer's home since he bought it six years ago.
The multi-millionaire, has two children.

Born in Cape Town, Chris Packer came to Perth with his family in 1952 and was educated at Christ Church Grammar School.

As a teenager, he sailed a yacht from Perth to the Seychelles.

A winner of the Sydney-Hobart race, he is the second oldest of four brothers in one of Perth's wealthiest families.

Chris Packer competed for New Zealand and Australia in a long sailing career, winning two of the three classic races, or trophies, in world offshore sailing.

In 1979, he represented Australia as part of their Admirals Cup team. They won the Admirals Cup, then regarded as the world championship of offshore racing. The Fastnet Race, the triple-scoring, last race of the Admirals Cup series claimed the lives of 15 sailors that year after being hit by a freak storm.

Packer also won the 1975 Sydney Hobart Race, sailing Rampage.

In New Zealand, Chris Packer owned and raced the Davidson 52fter Starlight Express, one of New Zealand's most celebrated and long-lived ocean racers.

Chris Packer was also one of the prime movers behind the re-establishment of Southern Spars and built the company to the point where it was recognised as a world leader in its field, prior to its sale to US interests, under which its growth has continued. Southern Spars are used by several America's Cup syndicates and the leading yacht in the Volvo Ocean Race, ABN Amro One.

After the sale of Southern Spars, Chris Packer took up ocean cruising, and has had a number of colourful exploits in various parts of the world.