In a tragic incident that has shaken the international community, the superyacht of British tech magnate Mike Lynch was found submerged 50 meters beneath the water surface near the port of Porticello.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of August 19, claimed the lives of Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, and four other individuals closely associated with the family.
According to The Independent, the yacht, christened 'Bayesian,' was discovered by Italian Navy divers who are now meticulously examining the wreckage. The divers have managed to retrieve video surveillance equipment, computer materials, hard drives, and other devices from the sunken vessel. These electronic devices will be dispatched to specialized labs outside Sicily for data recovery and condition checks.
The unfortunate incident has raised several questions, with the primary one being the cause of the yacht's sinking. Speculations suggest that a sudden, powerful gust of wind, known as a "downburst," might have led to the catastrophe. The retrieved video footage could potentially reveal if any negligence on the crew's part, such as leaving doors open, contributed to the flooding and subsequent sinking of the yacht.
Daniele Governale, a coast guard official in Palermo, shared that the divers utilized a hyperbaric chamber to facilitate repeated dives of up to 40 minutes for the search operation. The coastguard has also captured underwater images using a remotely operated vehicle, which will aid in devising a plan to salvage the yacht.
The incident has not only claimed the lives of Lynch and his daughter, who was set to commence her studies at Oxford University in September, but also other prominent figures. Among the deceased are Jonathan Bloomer, the international chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank; his wife Judith, a psychotherapist; Christopher Morvillo, a US lawyer; his wife Neda, a jewelry designer; and the yachts chef, Recaldo Thomas.
Three crew members, including New Zealand captain James Cutfield, are currently under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck. However, under Italian law, an investigation does not imply guilt or necessarily lead to formal charges. Sources close to Cutfield, as reported by the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, reveal that he is experiencing the darkest days of his life.
The investigation into the incident is expected to be a lengthy process, requiring the wreckage to be retrieved from the sea bed. The responsibility of raising the yacht has been assigned to the vessels owner, UK company Revton, controlled by Angela Bacares, the widow of Mr. Lynch. As the world awaits the outcome of this investigation, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the unpredictable and often unforgiving nature of the sea.
Login