An inquiry into the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht, which resulted in the tragic deaths of seven individuals, including a wealthy individual, revealed that the fatal incident was not due to a storm.
The vessel, belonging to British billionaire Mike Lynch, went down off the shores of Sicily amidst stormy conditions in August 2024. Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, were among those who lost their lives in the tragic sinking.
Authorities in Italy commissioned experts to investigate whether the storm played a role in the superyacht’s sinking. According to reports, the storm was described as a mere squall, a sudden rise in wind speed preceding thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, a situation that should have been manageable for the crew.
Initial findings indicated that the yacht sank due to mishandling by crew members, as per Sky News reports. Italian prosecutors are now contemplating potential charges of negligent shipwreck and multiple counts of manslaughter against the captain and two crew members.
Prosecutors have also raised the possibility of holding the yacht builder liable for the incident. The Bayesian sank near Palermo around 5 am on August 19 that year.
Lynch was accompanied by 11 guests and 10 crew members, with his wife Angela Bacares being rescued from the sinking vessel.
Among the victims were chef Recaldo Thomas, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, Lynch’s lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda.
A previous report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch revealed that guests attempted to escape the sinking vessel using an improvised ladder. The captain reportedly prepared to maneuver the ship when strong winds and waves woke up the crew members.
A sudden increase in wind speed at approximately 4:06 am caused the boat to tip violently by 90 degrees in just 15 seconds. After a lengthy operation, the vessel was refloated last year.
The superyacht sank to a depth of about 150 feet and remained underwater for approximately nine months. Upon commencement of salvage operations, the yacht was already covered in seaweed with fish observed inside its compartments.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck during the salvage operation when a Dutch diver lost his life at the site. Manned diving activities were temporarily halted, leading to a shift to robotic systems for underwater exploration.
