A manslaughter investigation has been launched following the deaths of seven people onboard the Bayesian superyacht which sank off the coast of Sicily.
Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese, said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. No specific suspects have been named, so far.
At a press conference, prosecutors were asked about the Bayesian crew’s responsibilities considering all but one survived.
Prosecutors said they were “concentrating on this particular aspect”.
They want to “discover how much they knew and to what extent all the people [passengers] were warned”.
It comes as tributes have poured in for Hannah Lynch, who died with her father on the superyacht.
Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian who is understood to have been rescued from the yacht described Hannah as a “diamond in a sea of stars”.
“What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything,” she added.
Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died on the boat.
Key Points
- Timeline of the Bayesian luxury yacht disaster
- Tribute to ‘genius’ storyteller Mike Lynch
- Italian prosecutor announces manslaughter investigation over Mike Lynch yacht sinking
- Pictured: Bayesian superyacht
Timeline of the Bayesian luxury yacht disaster in Sicily: Monday 19 - Wednesday 21 August
Sunday 25 August 2024 15:56
Jabed Ahmed
Monday 19 August
- The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.
- Fifteen people are rescued from the 55m (180ft) vessel – including a mother and baby – but another seven remain missing.
- A body, believed to be that of a chef on the boat, is later found near the wreck.
Tuesday 20 August
- The search continues for the six tourists missing.
- It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.
- Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.
- Italy’s fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were “unsuccessful” because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.
Wednesday 21 August
- The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht’s internal hull.
- A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.
- Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.
- Body bags are seen being taken to the port of Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.
ICYMI: Prosecutor says Bayesian incident is a ‘very grave tragedy’
Sunday 25 August 2024 15:35
Jabed Ahmed
A top prosecutor in Sicily outlined the order in which the bodies of six people who had been missing following the yacht sinking were retrieved, calling the incident a “very grave tragedy”.
Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said: “These six persons who tried desperately to save themselves were finally retrieved.
“First of all, four of them. Jonathan Bloomer the banker, Christopher Morvillo the lawyer, and all four of them were retrieved from inside the yacht which was 50 metres down.
“Then, later, the other two were also retrieved.
“Michael Lynch on the 23rd, yesterday, and then the 18-year-old daughter of Michael Lynch, Hannah, was found yesterday morning.
“It is a very grave tragedy and in order to reduce the dimensions of the tragedy, we have called upon the co-operation of the firefighters, firefighting divers, who have shown incredible courage and skill, who carried out a very difficult mission indeed and have allowed us to inspect properly the wreck for bodies.”
Recap: Passengers were asleep and therefore unable to escape, prosecutors say
Sunday 25 August 2024 15:16
Jabed Ahmed
The passengers who died were probably asleep, prosecutors said, and this is the reason they failed to escape.
Raffaele Cammarano, the prosecutor of the case, suggested “they were asleep whereas the others weren’t”.
He was asked if there was anyone at the time available to alert them.
Mr Cammarano said: “That is precisely what we are trying to ascertain from the statements made during the interrogation of the survivors – an essential point in the inquiry obviously.”
How billionaire’s superyacht trip to celebrate end of 13 year legal battle ended in tragedy
Sunday 25 August 2024 14:56
Jabed Ahmed
Diver describes tragic conditions aboard the Bayesian wreck
Sunday 25 August 2024 14:36
Jabed Ahmed
A diver described the emotional moment the final body was pulled from the wreckage of the Bayesian when they all stopped to applaud as Hannah Lynch made it to shore.
Inspector Vincenzo Nardoni, a diver drafted in from the fire brigade’s unit in Naples, said: “It was an emotional liberation, a relief of stress.
“Because stress is our daily bread. We work on call and in emergencies, and we intervene immediately. So stress is our baggage, is what we bring with us.”
He added “We had to revise the scene from a different angle from the way we’d normally see it, and that made everything more difficult.’
“We entered the confined spaces, having already performed evaluations on the safe point to enter inside the yacht. We found the safest spot and got inside from there.
“But inside it was a very confusing place, with wardrobes and furniture whirling all around us, and lots of mirrors reflecting back our lights at us.
“The bodies were all wedged in tight spots, with furniture on top or beside them. They were all stuck there.”
Who was on the Bayesian? How Mike Lynch’s inner circle celebrated end of billionaire’s 13 year court battle
Sunday 25 August 2024 14:18
Jabed Ahmed
Why weren’t passengers who remained on board the vessel warned about escaping from the yacht?
Sunday 25 August 2024 13:59
Jabed Ahmed
The prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, suggested that some passengers may have been asleep when others were awake.
Asked why they were not woken up or alerted, he said that is something investigators are trying to work out from the statements of the survivors.
He called it an “essential” part of the inquiry.
Watch: Final moments of seven who died in Bayesian tragedy revealed by fire service boss
Sunday 25 August 2024 13:47
Jabed Ahmed
Mike Lynch had concerns over Lucy Letby conviction, says former minister
Sunday 25 August 2024 13:35
Jabed Ahmed
Former cabinet minister Sir David Davis has said that Mike Lynch, the tech mogul who died when his yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, wanted to examine the murder conviction of nurse Lucy Letby over concerns about its safety.
Read the full report below:
Why were several of the passengers in one cabin?
Sunday 25 August 2024 13:26
Jabed Ahmed
The press conference heard several bodies onboard the sunken yacht were found in a single cabin which was not theirs.
Mr Cammarano said investigators currently do not know the reason for them being discovered in the same cabin.
The chief of the Palermo fire service, Bentivoglio Fiandra, said the yacht pinned to the right and suggested people tried to go on the other side, taking refuge in cabins in the higher part of the wreck.
Video: Italian prosecutor announces manslaughter investigation over Mike Lynch yacht sinking
Sunday 25 August 2024 13:13
Jabed Ahmed
Why did the boat sink?
Sunday 25 August 2024 12:52
Jabed Ahmed
The vessel had been deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer – Italian shipyard Perini Navi.
The Bayesian was hit by a downburst, according to Mr Cammarano, which are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.
Officials will look into the safety equipment on the sunken vessel.
Mr Cammarano was asked about whether there is a black box and if the hatches were left open.
He said investigators do not have exact information about the black box and that the first phase of the inquiry will look into it.
Why were nearby vessels not similarly affected?
Sunday 25 August 2024 12:34
Jabed Ahmed
Another yacht, the Sir Robert BP, was about 150 to 200 metres from the Bayesian when extreme weather hit.
Its crew helped to rescue 15 people from the stricken vessel.
Italian officials said they would be looking at how the downburst could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels.
How long will it take to recover the sailing vessel?
Sunday 25 August 2024 12:17
Jabed Ahmed
Maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda could not confirm how long it would take to retrieve the shipwreck of the sunken yacht.
“Everything depends on the availability of the owners and the timeframe of the retrieval of the wreck and of course all that has to be submitted to the port authorities and in parallel of course there will be the inquiry results and it’s only really then that we will be able to authorise the operation,” he said.
“I can’t say, like some experts who have already spoken on the subject, that it will be eight weeks.”
He made clear that the owners will bear the full cost of retrieval, although he could not estimate the figure.
Timeline of the Bayesian luxury yacht disaster: Thursday 22 August - Saturday 24 August
Sunday 25 August 2024 11:56
Jabed Ahmed
Thursday 22 August
- The search resumes for the remaining missing person.
- The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.
- A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.
- Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.
Friday 23 August
- The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, later confirmed to be 18-year-old Hannah.
- Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey building full of water”.
- A spokesperson announces on behalf of her family that they are “devastated” and “in shock” after the bodies of Hannah and her father were recovered.
- Hannah’s sister Esme pays tribute to her “little angel”.
Saturday 24 August
- A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town – Termini Imerese.
- Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, according to a translation.
- The press conference also hears from the prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, the fire brigade chief of Palermo, Bentivoglio Fiandra, and the brigade’s chief diver, Giuseppe Petrone.
NYC lawyer who died in yacht disaster wrote haunting LinkedIn post weeks before
Sunday 25 August 2024 11:38
Jabed Ahmed
Pictured: Bayesian superyacht
Sunday 25 August 2024 11:19
Jabed Ahmed
What is a downburst?
Sunday 25 August 2024 10:58
Jabed Ahmed
Officials said the superyacht had been hit by a downburst and the Italian officials said they would be looking at how it could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels, according to the translation of the conference.
A downburst is an intense burst of wind at ground level emenating from the strong downdraft of a thunderstorm; the wind often blows radially from a point source, as opposed to the rotating winds associated with a tornado.
Downbursts usually last just a few minutes, and can be particularly dangerous for aviation.
They have been blamed for a number of air crashes over the years, although the risk tends to be well forecast by meteorologists allowing pilots to avoid them.
Who is Angela Bacares?
Sunday 25 August 2024 10:39
Jabed Ahmed
Wife of Mike Lynch, 57-year-old Angela Bacares managed to escape to safety and is in a wheelchair with abrasions on her feet that prevent her from walking, according to la Repubblica.
The newspaper said she told doctors that at 4am, the boat had tilted and she and her husband were woken up.
Under Angela Bacares’ name, the couple’s estimated wealth is £852m, the Sunday Times Rich List revealed in 2023. They have a house in Chelsea, west London, but primarily live on their farm in Suffolk with their six dogs and rare breeds of pigs and cows.
Who died on the Bayesian yacht?
Sunday 25 August 2024 10:23
Jabed Ahmed
British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the people initially unaccounted for after his superyacht Bayesian sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday.
On Saturday morning, Italian authorities announced a manslaughter investigation had been launched into the deaths of seven people, after a five-day operation that has seen divers carefully navigating their way into the cabin bedrooms.
Mr Lynch and Hannah were among the seven people who died after the Bayesian superyacht sank near Porticello at about 5am local time on Monday.
Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died.
Recaldo Thomas was the superyacht’s chef and the first person whose death was confirmed.
Sunday 25 August 2024 10:03
Jabed Ahmed
A diver who searched the wreck of the Bayesian for missing passengers has spoken of his team’s strong emotional reaction to recovering the body of Hannah Lynch during the complex operation.
“Finding bodies underwater is our job, you get used to it and keep your emotions under control, but locating the girl was different — it was an emotional moment because she was so young,” Fabio Paoletti, a member of the Italian firefighters’ diving team told The Sunday Times.
He added: “We got into a large room, but I couldn’t say how large because I couldn’t see the walls. That led to a staircase down to a narrow corridor linking to the cabins.
“Entering the Bayesian we needed to check for any obstacles that could impede our exit, which was crucial since you had such little time to get out.
“That means looking for a door or lid that could swing open or a curtain that could get in your way. You clear the path.”
Tributes to a ‘brave’ and ‘selfless’ friend who died on Bayesian
Sunday 25 August 2024 09:47
Jabed Ahmed
Friends of Recaldo “Rick” Thomas have paid tribute to their ‘brave’ and ‘selfless’ friend who was found in the water near the superyacht Bayesian.
“Rick could have jumped off and survived, I have no doubt about that. But he wouldn’t have left people on board and just swum away,” his friend Gareth Williams told The Sunday Times.
“I read that the first mate was quite young, Rick would have said to him, ‘Get off the boat, man, I am here, I got this.’ That’s just who he was.”
He added: “He had this infectious smile and a sultry, baritone voice. He was the type of person you could sit in a room with — no TV, no music playing, and just be. You didn’t have to say a word. You just enjoy his company.”
Tribute to ‘genius’ storyteller Mike Lynch
Sunday 25 August 2024 09:29
Jabed Ahmed
Susannah Gurdun, a close family friend of the Lynch’s from Suffolk, shared a series of heartfelt stories about Mike Lynch and who he was beyond being one of Britain’s biggest tech moguls.
Ms Gurdun told of his “thrilling ability” to explain difficult and complicated concepts in a way people could easily understand.
His wife, Angela Bacares, and his daughters were telling Ms Gurdun of his ability to “conjure beautiful stories out of thin air”.
The following evening, Mr Lynch told a story as the dinner plates were cleared about a hero, who was the same age as Ms Gurdun’s son, embarking on adventures in search of treasure. She called it “magical”.
She added that she was not surprised to learn that Hannah had begun showing “serious literary promise”.
Mapped: Where did the Bayesian sink?
Sunday 25 August 2024 09:03
Jabed Ahmed
Giant masts, moon pools and pole explorer pods: How the world of yachts got supersized
Sunday 25 August 2024 08:43
Jabed Ahmed
It is probable offences were committed, prosecutor says
Sunday 25 August 2024 08:29
Jabed Ahmed
Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said he thought it was “probable that offences were committed” surrounding the sinking of the yacht.
He told reporters that the sinking could have been the responsibility of the captain, crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the ship-builder, or others.
He added: “We will establish each element’s responsibility – that will be done by the inquiry, so we can’t do that prematurely.
“For me, it is probable that offences were committed – that it could be a case of manslaughter – but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate.
“Media timing is completely different from that of a prosecutor. We need a minimum amount of time to come to a proper scientific conclusion.”
Recap: post-mortem examinations yet to be carried out
Sunday 25 August 2024 08:13
Jabed Ahmed
No information has yet been gleaned from an examination of the seven people who died, the prosecutor of the case has said.
In response to a question about whether post-mortem examinations have been carried out, Raffaele Cammarano told a press conference in Italy: “There are a whole number of preliminary stages to go through before the autopsies.”
The yacht had been hit by a downburst and the the Italian officials said they would be looking at how it could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels, according to the translation of the conference.
The inquiry is currently an Italian affair with local involvement, but chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said: “I cannot tell you with any certainty that the inquiry will be exclusively Italian.”
He added: “There will be developments, I’m sure, on that score.”
Mike Lynch net worth: How the billionaire made his money
Sunday 25 August 2024 07:59
Jabed Ahmed
Full report: Manslaughter investigation launched after Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht sinks
Sunday 25 August 2024 07:43
Jabed Ahmed
A manslaughter investigation has been launched following the deaths of seven people onboard the Bayesian superyacht which sank off the coast of Sicily.
Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese, said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. No specific suspects have been named, so far.
Read the full report below:
Hannah was ‘a diamond in a sea of stars’ who vowed to save her parents
Sunday 25 August 2024 07:39
Jabed Ahmed
The daughter of tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died with her father on the luxury superyacht Bayesian, has been described as a “diamond in a sea of stars” by a survivor from the tragedy.
Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian who is understood to have been rescued from the yacht, said: “Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars. Bright, beautiful and always shining.
“What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything.
“While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them.
“I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive.”
Who was on the Bayesian? How Mike Lynch’s inner circle celebrated end of billionaire’s 13 year court battle
Sunday 25 August 2024 07:30
Barney Davis
What is a 'downburst'?
Sunday 25 August 2024 06:30
Barney Davis
Officials said the superyacht had been hit by a downburst and the Italian officials said they would be looking at how it could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels, according to the translation of the conference.
A downburst is an intense burst of wind at ground level emenating from the strong downdraft of a thunderstorm; the wind often blows radially from a point source, as opposed to the rotating winds associated with a tornado.
Downbursts usually last just a few minutes, and can be particularly dangerous for aviation.
They have been blamed for a number of air crashes over the years, although the risk tends to be well forecast by meteorologists allowing pilots to avoid them.
Recap: Prosecutor demands time to assess whether manslaughter charges can be brought
Sunday 25 August 2024 05:30
Barney Davis
Ambrogio Cartosio, chief prosecutor of Termini Imeres, told a press conference he thought it was “probable that offences were committed” over the seven deaths during the sinking of the Bayesian.
He said officials the will examine whether the captain, crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the ship-builder, or others could bear responsibility over the deaths.
“We will establish each element’s responsibility - that will be done by the inquiry, so we can’t do that prematurely.
“For me, it is probable that offences were committed - that it could be a case of manslaughter - but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate.”
Experts say recovery of Bayesian could take two months
Sunday 25 August 2024 04:30
Barney Davis
Raffaele Macauda, deputy commander of the Palermo coastguard, told the media it was “difficult” getting into the yacht’s cabins and it required “very lengthy periods to remove obstacles” through them.
Mr Macauda said the coastguard is conducting in-depth environmental monitoring.
He adds that the owner of the Bayesian has expressed an interest in recovering the vessel from the sea floor, but the timing of this was uncertain.
Some experts have estimated it could take eight weeks to recover the yacht.
Teenager who died in superyacht tragedy was ‘a diamond in a sea of stars’ who vowed to save her parents
Sunday 25 August 2024 03:30
Barney Davis
Next step: Pulling the Bayesian out of the sea ‘complex and costly'
Sunday 25 August 2024 02:15
Barney Davis
The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and in any case should not have sunk as quickly as it did.
Pulling the Bayesian out of the sea will help investigators determine what happened, but the operation is likely to be complex and costly. The wreck is lying apparently intact on its side at a depth of 50 metres (164 feet).“It’s in the interests of the owners and managers of the ship to salvage it,” Cartosio said, adding “they have assured their full cooperation”.
Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group which owns Perini, told Reuters this week the shipwreck was the result of a string of “indescribable, unreasonable errors” made by the crew, and ruled out any design or construction failings.
No tornado alert before sinking - coastguard say
Sunday 25 August 2024 01:10
Barney Davis
Raffaele Macauda, deputy commander of the Palermo coastguard, said there was no alert of a tornado at the time of the sinking on Monday morning.
Mr Macauda told a press conference: “Given that the conditions were such, there wasn’t anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation arising.
“There are vessels that can monitor, after all, these events and one would have thought that the captain had taken precautions.”
Deputy Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano told journalists the Italian Air Force had confirmed the sinking was most likely caused by a downburst which are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.
Officials will look into the safety equipment on the sunken vessel.
Mr Cammarano was asked about whether there is a black box and if the hatches were left open.
He said investigators do not have exact information about the black box and that the first phase of the inquiry will look into it.
Captain and other survivors questioned after Bayesian tragedy
Sunday 25 August 2024 00:01
Barney Davis
The captain James Cutfield and the other survivors have been questioned this week by authorities. None of them have commented publicly on how the ship went down.
Raffaele Cammarano, another prosecutor speaking at the same news conference, said that when authorities questioned Cutfield he had been “extremely cooperative”.
Lynch’s pay tribute to father and daughter lost on Bayesian
Saturday 24 August 2024 23:02
Barney Davis
Hannah Lynch’s sister Esme described her as “the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister”.
Paying tribute, she said: “Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me. Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice. No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.
“She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.
“And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends, and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.
“She is my little angel, my star.”
A spokesperson for the Lynch family said: “The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.
“Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.
“They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.
“Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”
Diver describes tragic conditions aboard the Bayesian wreck
Saturday 24 August 2024 22:10
Barney Davis
A diver described the emotional moment the final body was pulled from the wreckage of the Bayesian when they all stopped to applaud as Hannah Lynch made it to shore.
Inspector Vincenzo Nardoni, a diver drafted in from the fire brigade’s unit in Naples, said: “It was an emotional liberation, a relief of stress.
“Because stress is our daily bread. We work on call and in emergencies, and we intervene immediately. So stress is our baggage, is what we bring with us.”
He added “We had to revise the scene from a different angle from the way we’d normally see it, and that made everything more difficult.’
“We entered the confined spaces, having already performed evaluations on the safe point to enter inside the yacht. We found the safest spot and got inside from there.
“But inside it was a very confusing place, with wardrobes and furniture whirling all around us, and lots of mirrors reflecting back our lights at us.
“The bodies were all wedged in tight spots, with furniture on top or beside them. They were all stuck there.”
Recap: Bayesian crew allowed to leave Sicily
Saturday 24 August 2024 21:10
Barney Davis
Chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck at a press conference.
Asked whether the crew will remain in Sicily, Mr Cartosio said: “There’s no obligation, but they should be available for the investigation.”
Authroties still have questions to ask the captain but that they cannot keep people in the country under Italian law.
Raffaele Cammarano added his officials were going to give the crew alcohol and drug testing.
He stressed no individuals were yet under investigation.
Mike Lynch net worth: How the billionaire made his money
Saturday 24 August 2024 20:30
Barney Davis
British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was among seven people who died after the luxury superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning
The 59-year-old is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy Corporation and had been in the headlines after he was cleared of charges in a high-profile fraud case.
But how did the “British Bill Gates” earn his fortune?
Final moments of Bayesian victims revealed
Saturday 24 August 2024 19:53
Barney Davis
The final moments of the remaining victims of the Bayesian disaster have been revealed in a press conference earlier today.
Local prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said the meteorological event that hit the vessel was most likely a “downburst”, a very strong downward wind that is an intense but relatively frequent event at sea, rather than a water spout which involves rotating winds like a whirlwind or tornado.
He said that the passengers were all probably asleep at the time of the storm which was why they failed to escape.
Bentivoglio Fiandra, chief of Palermo’s fire brigade and part of the divers’ rescue team, explained that the Bayesian sank stern-first and then rolled onto its right side.
“As a result, the victims sought refuge on the left side of the boat, where the last air pockets remained as the vessel was sinking,” he said.
The divers found five bodies in the first cabin on the left and one, Hannah Lynch’s, in the third cabin on the left.
The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and in any case should not have sunk as quickly as it did.
Inspector Vincenzo Nardoni, a diver drafted in from the fire brigade’s unit in Naples: “The bodies were all wedged in tight spots, with furniture on top or beside them. They were all stuck there.”
Prosecutor says likely Bayesian victims tried to escape sinking superyacht
Saturday 24 August 2024 19:30
Barney Davis
According to the Telegraph, Raffaele Cammarano, one of two prosecutors leading the case, told a press conference earlier: “There can be no certainty about the behaviour of the passengers on board, at the moment.
“It is probable they tried to escape but we have no real details about that, that will emerge in the course of the inquiry.”
Manslaughter investigation launched after Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht sinks
Saturday 24 August 2024 18:47
Barney Davis
A manslaughter investigation has been launched following the death of seven people onboard the Bayesian superyacht which sank off the coast of Sicily.
Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese, said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. No specific suspects have been named.
British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those who died after the yacht sank near Porticello around 5am local time on Monday.
My colleague Jabed Ahmed reports:
Tribute to ‘genius’ storyteller Mike Lynch
Saturday 24 August 2024 18:30
Barney Davis
Susannah Gurdun, a close family friend of the Lynch’s from Suffolk, shared a series of heartfelt stories about Mike Lynch and who he was beyond being one of Britain’s biggest tech moguls.
Ms Gurdun told of his “thrilling ability” to explain difficult and complicated concepts in a way people could easily understand.
His wife, Angela Bacares, and his daughters were telling Ms Gurdun of his ability to “conjure beautiful stories out of thin air”.
The following evening, Mr Lynch told a story as the dinner plates were cleared about a hero, who was the same age as Ms Gurdun’s son, embarking on adventures in search of treasure.
She called it “magical”.
She added that she was not surprised to learn that Hannah had begun showing “serious literary promise”.
“It is beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led… but I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain,” she said.
“Not just because I witnessed Mike’s incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family.
“To those of us who knew him in that way, this family achievement – in partnership with Angela – was every bit as special and beautiful as the ones he pulled off in the world of tech and science.
“Perhaps even more so – in that he did it all simultaneously.
“He was an extraordinary human being and it was – truly – a privilege to have known him.”
Tragic Hannah said she would save parents if they ever got in trouble swimming
Saturday 24 August 2024 18:01
Barney Davis
The chief stewardess of the tragic Beysian superyacht, has paid tribute to Hannah Lynch, 18, after her body was recovered from the wreck.
Sasha Murray, released a statement, saying: “Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars. Bright, beautiful and always shining.
“What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything.
“While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them. I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive.”
Timeline of the Bayesian luxury yacht disaster in Sicily: Monday 19 - Wednesday 21 August
Saturday 24 August 2024 17:24
Jabed Ahmed
Monday 19 August
The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.