THE famous French oceanographer, Jacques Yves Cousteau, who revealed the mysteries of the sea to the world in prizewinning films, died yesterday, aged 87. His widow Francine said he died of a heart attack. President Jacques Chirac mourned Cousteau as an "enchanter", saying he was probably the best known Frenchman internationally.
"Captain JacquesYves Cousteau has gone to the Silent World this Wednesday, June 25th, 1997," Cousteau's foundation said in a statement announcing his death. A memorial service will be held in NotreDame Cathedral, Paris, on Monday. The Silent World was the name of a documentary which won Cousteau the top award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956. The film was made with skindiving gear co-invented by Cousteau in 1943.
In his trademark sea blue tunic and red beret, the hawklike Cousteau became famous through books and films, particularly the US sponsored television series, The Undersea World of Jacques Yves Cousteau, first broadcast in 1965.
Cousteau toured the world in the Calypso, a converted mine sweeper equipped with a marine laboratory. From the Antarctic to the Amazon jungles or the depths of the oceans surrounded by colourful fish. Cousteau won a worldwide reputation as a champion of the environment. He was regularly voted Frances most loved public figure in opinion polls.
In a tribute, Mr Chirac expressed "great sadness". An enchanter has just left us. On behalf of all our compatriots, I would like to express my admiration and gratitude to the family of the `world's most famous Frenchman' for a life and work in the service of a cause."
In one of his last campaigns, Cousteau joined international protests against Mr Chirac's nuclear testing in the south Pacific in 1995.
The newspaper, Le Monde, hailed Cousteau as "captain of the oceans' and, drawing on Hemingway, entitled his career "The Old Man and the Sea".
The US VicePresident, Mr Al Gore, called Cousteau a hero and said he learned a "tremendous amount" from him.
Cousteau fell out with one of his sons, JeanMichel, who used the Cousteau name in a Fiji Islands resort, claiming trademark infringements. The case was settled last year.
Joe Humphreys adds: Mr Des Branigan of Irish Marine Research said Mr Cousteau's death was "an immense loss" to divers throughout the world.
He recalled that when the two met a number of years ago, Mr Cousteau said he was "one eighth Irish" as his great grandfather was an O'Moore and his great grandmother an O'Shea.