A CATALOGUE of botched electrics aboard a 53-year-old businessman’s luxury yacht caused the vessel to become 'live' and electrocute him to death off the coast of Turkey, an inquest heard today.

Lack of electrical maintenance, inadequate quayside mains terminals at Fethiya Marina in south-west Turkey, “meddling by non-professionals,” numerous cabling faults and poor wiring caused the tragic death of perfumery owner Alec Lawless, the Gloucester inquest was told.

Mr Lawless suffered a fatal electric shock in the boiler room of his 30-foot-yacht on March 26, 2012, Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court was told.

Mr Lawless, from Amberley, went down to the boiler room of his yacht after dining ashore with his partner Denise Taylor.

“I heard a loud scream of pain,” Ms Taylor said in evidence.

“He was standing rigid in a confined space and when I touched his shoulder I felt a massive electrical jolt and suddenly the whole boat became live with electricity.”

Ms Taylor told the inquest that paramedics attended and tried to revive her partner for an hour but to no avail and then she herself was arrested.

“But after some questioning I was released,” she added.

A local marine engineer’s report pointed out that the water heater was not earthed and there had been amateur cabling without insulation.

Also it was noted that the mains electricity system on the wharf – pedestals – was not very safe.

The system had shortcomings and a default system was not working, said the report.

“It was insecure and not satisfactory and the main shore power cable was immersed in the sea and had barnacles on it,” said assistant coroner David Dooley at the Barnwood courthouse.

“Cabling in the boiler was completely unprofessional and cables, without insulation, were lying on the wet floor of the yacht. There was poor wiring, unrepaired wiring and burned insulation.”

The engineer recommended a general refit.

The Turkish public prosecutor said there was no need for prosecution after talking to two local engineers who had worked on the boat’s electrics, according to Mr Dooley.

Referring Mr Lawless’s death as “utterly tragic,” Mr Dooley said: “Lack of maintenance, inadequate electrics and meddling has resulted in this death, which I conclude was accidental.”

In the 1990s Mr Lawless bought a replica of the Woodchester Pavement - an exact copy of the world famous Great Orpheus Roman mosaic at Woodchester, near Stroud.

The original was last seen in the 1970s but has since been covered to protect it.

The replica, created with 1.6 million tiny square clay tiles, was made by builder brothers Bob and John Woodward after they were inspired by a visit to see the pavement when it was last uncovered.

Mr Lawless organised a public exhibition of the mosaic at Prinknash Abbey near Painswick, where it was displayed until 2010.

The 47ft mosaic was then sold to an unknown telephone bidder for £75,000 in June that year.

"He was a man of tremendous zest for life and with an insatiable appetite for knowledge," said friend Bob Woodward.

"It is difficult to believe that someone who was so full of life is no longer with us. I know he will be greatly missed. It was a great joy to have known him."

Mr Lawless, a Buddhist who was also a trained psychotherapist, established his natural perfumery business Essentially Me at Griffin Mill in Thrupp in 2008.

Family and friends described him as an extraordinary individual with a great passion for life and for his family.

Mr Lawless’ daughter Natasha was born in 1988 and two years ago he became a grandfather when Natasha and her partner Jerome Monnot had a daughter Anouk.

A committed Buddhist, Mr Lawless led a meditation group for the Western Chan Fellowship in Stroud for many years.

Friends described him as ‘a force of nature and one of a kind’, while his family said in a statement 'Alec was a pivotal part of many people’s lives and, because of his generosity of time, wisdom and compassion, he helped to guide people through periods of difficulty through the richness of his input and caring.

'He will be greatly missed.'

Mr Lawless is also survived by his parents Myles and Ute, brother Liam and sister-in-law Bernadette and sister Eileen and niece Naima.

He was buried at the Memorial Woodlands near Bristol .