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A 63-year-old man linked to the fire in St Aubin earlier this month has been found dead, police have confirmed.
The man is believed to be the individual arrested on suspicion of arson over the fire that destroyed Gallichan Marine on 7 December.
Police have not named the man, but they say that they have referred the matter to the Jersey Police Complaints Authority.
They say that there are no suspicious circumstances about the death.
In a statement on Thursday, police said: "This male features as part of the ongoing investigation into the recent fire in St Aubin and as such the Deputy Chief Officer has made a voluntary referral to the Jersey Police Complaints Authority, which is standard practice following recent police contact.
"The male was due to answer bail yesterday morning.
"States of Jersey Police officers and staff continue to work with the deceased's family on behalf of the Deputy Viscount and there are no further comments to be made at this time."
The fire, which gutted the boatyard, forced people living next to the site to evacuate their homes and saw police close off part of the village.
The threat of fumes from burning fibreglass prompted police to warn people in the area to keep their windows and doors closed.
The Parish Hall was opened early to be used as an evacuation centre for residents.
It took teams of firefighters using four fire engines, and aerial ladder and breathing equipment to bring the blaze under control.
One man living next door to the boatyard told Bailiwick Express on the morning of the fire that he, his wife and their baby daughter had been forced to flee their home after being woken up by explosions just yards from their bedroom window.
Richard Goodridge said: “I woke up and heard banging and explosions.
“I thought originally that it was flares or something. But it happened about ten times and I could see the light, the flames were lighting up the bedroom.
“I looked out of the window and saw that the flame was about six to nine feet away from the bedroom window.
“They were reaching higher than the house."
Pic credit: Sean Henstridge
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