Six days after the tragic sinking of the luxury yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily, Italian prosecutors have initiated a manslaughter and negligent shipwreck investigation following the deaths of seven people on board. The incident occurred on August 19, during severe weather, and resulted in the vessel sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Among the 22 passengers and crew on board, only 15 managed to escape.
During a press conference held at the court in Termini Imerese, Sicily, on Saturday, Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio announced that the investigation would seek to determine the responsibility of various parties, including the yacht’s captain, crew, supervisory individuals, and the ship-builder. “For me, it is probable that offenses were committed… but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate,” Cartosio stated.
Among the victims were British tech businessman Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International Bank Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who served as a chef on the yacht. All seven bodies have since been recovered.
Deputy Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano clarified that the yacht was struck by a downburst, a powerful gust of wind, rather than a waterspout as initially reported by witnesses. Maritime Director of Western Sicily, Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, described the weather as abnormal, noting that there had been no tornado alert at the time of the incident. Authorities are investigating how the downburst impacted the Bayesian while leaving other nearby vessels unaffected.
Specialized divers were deployed from across the country to recover the bodies, despite challenging conditions such as poor visibility due to the weather. The bodies of six victims were found together in cabins on the left side of the yacht. Chief of the Palermo Fire Service, Girolamo Bentivoglio, explained that the yacht had tilted to the right, likely prompting the passengers to seek refuge on the left side. Several bodies were found in a single cabin, raising questions about whether the victims were asleep and unable to escape the rapidly sinking yacht.
Prosecutors noted that they are still in the process of questioning survivors to ascertain key details, such as why the victims were not alerted in time. Although there is no obligation for the captain and crew to remain in Sicily, they are expected to be available for further questioning. Prosecutors also mentioned that they are working on conducting alcohol and drug tests for the crew and emphasized that no post-mortem examinations have yet been carried out on the victims.
The investigation remains in its early stages, with authorities stressing the need for time to reach a comprehensive conclusion.
