According to the newspaper report, his body was found after about 10 days. Is that long enough to dissolve the glue?
I can't visualize how he could strap a case to himself, that would survive the plunge into the sea. Was he using it as a flotation aid?
And when would he have had time to find a suitcase - or was it someone elses, that was left behind in the chaos? I would have thought that most musicians keep their instrument cases close by, so when the band headed up to the deck, they would have already put their precious instruments in their cases. Yes, I know they took them out again and played outside, but after they finished, wouldn't they have had time to return them to the 'safety' of their own cases? What would you have done with your special instrument? And where would he find a strap long enough to go around himself and a case - or did he just loop his belt through the handle of the case? I think the bass player would have had more chance of floating!
A fascinating story.
Robyn