An inquiry into the tragic sinking of the Bayesian superyacht, resulting in the loss of seven lives, including a prominent billionaire, has revealed that the catastrophic event was not due to a storm.
The vessel, belonging to British tycoon Mike Lynch, went down off the shores of Sicily amidst stormy conditions in August 2024. Lynch and his teenage daughter Hannah were among the individuals who perished in the tragic incident.
Following the disaster, Italian prosecutors engaged experts to ascertain if the storm was the primary cause of the superyacht’s sinking. The investigation findings indicated that the storm was merely a brief intense wind surge, manageable for an experienced crew.
Initial reports indicate that the yacht’s demise was a result of mishandling by crew members rather than adverse weather conditions, as reported by Sky News. Prosecutors are contemplating potential charges of negligence and manslaughter against the captain and two crew members.
Additionally, authorities are considering the liability of the superyacht’s builder in the sinking incident. The catastrophic event occurred near Palermo around 5 am on August 19 that fateful year.
Accompanying Lynch on the vessel were 11 other guests and 10 crew members, with his wife Angela Bacares being the sole survivor rescued from the sinking ship.
Among the victims were chef Recaldo Thomas, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his spouse Judy, Lynch’s attorney Chris Morvillo, and spouse Neda.
A previous interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch revealed that guests attempted to escape using an improvised ladder as the vessel listed. The ship’s captain was preparing for maneuvers after being alerted by crew members about the adverse weather conditions.
A sudden surge in wind speed around 4:06 am caused the boat to tilt significantly in a short span of time. Salvage operations were successfully carried out the following year, with the vessel submerged nearly 150 feet below the surface for approximately nine months. Once the recovery process commenced, the superyacht was found covered in seaweed and inhabited by marine life inside its compartments.
