A charity is calling on superyacht crew members to share details of their working and living conditions, following the death of 20-year-old South African stewardess Paige Bell in July 2025.
What happened to Paige Bell
Bell, from Johannesburg, was found dead in the engine room of the charter yacht Far From It after hours of searching. Brigido Muñoz, a 39-year-old Mexican engineer who worked alongside her below deck, has been charged with her murder, after being found beside her body with self-inflicted wrist injuries in what police believe was a suicide attempt.
Bell had recently completed a season aboard the Motor Yacht Sweet Emocean before joining Far From It as a guest relations officer. Friends described her as a "golden girl," and her death came just weeks before her 21st birthday.
The charity's update
Since Bell's death, the charity Protecting Crew Lives (PCL) has launched a survey asking superyacht crew members to share information about their living and working conditions across the industry. Co-founder Chantal Johnson said the goal is to build a collective, undeniable body of evidence that PCL can use to advocate for crew members, making the issues raised impossible for the industry to ignore.
A related press release from Human Rights at Sea highlighted broader risks facing superyacht crew even before they board a vessel, pointing to fake recruitment agencies, inappropriate interview practices, cybercrime, and other criminal activity crew members can face on land.
Her family's continued grief
Bell's family has previously described the ongoing legal process following her death as both emotionally and financially overwhelming, given the cost of pursuing justice abroad. In an earlier statement, they described the loss as devastating for everyone who knew her, including her former captain, the boat's owner, and the wider crew, and thanked supporters for their continued solidarity.
