Divers have recovered the bodies of five of the six passengers missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday. Among the passengers were prominent UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, his teenage daughter Hannah Lynch, Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda.
The 56-meter yacht, named Bayesian and flying a British flag, was carrying 22 people when it anchored offshore near the port of Porticello. The vessel was struck by what is believed to be a tornado or waterspout, causing it to sink rapidly. The body of the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, was discovered shortly after the incident.
Salvo Cocina, director-general of Sicily’s civil protection agency, confirmed on Wednesday that four bodies had been recovered by divers, with a fifth located but not yet brought ashore. He expressed his sympathies, stating, “On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and offer our condolences during this difficult time.”
The Italian coastguard is currently working to confirm the identities of the recovered bodies. Sources told The Guardian that Bloomer and Morvillo have been identified among the deceased. One body remains unaccounted for.
The search operation, which has faced significant challenges due to the yacht’s confined interior and obstructive debris, was suspended on Wednesday evening and will resume Thursday morning. The bodies are expected to be transferred to a morgue in Palermo, where postmortems will be conducted under the supervision of the public prosecutor of Termini Imerese, who has launched an investigation into the incident.
Although some media outlets have reported that the bodies of Mike Lynch and his daughter are among those found, however, no formal confirmation has been provided by the authorities.
Eyewitnesses at Porticello harbor watched in silence, with some shedding tears as body bags were brought ashore. The yacht’s captain, James Cutfield, was interviewed for over two hours by investigators. His brother, Mark Cutfield, described him as “a very good sailor” who was “highly respected” in the Mediterranean.
In addition to the public prosecutor’s investigation, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is also conducting its own inquiry into the incident. A spokesperson for the MAIB commented, “The MAIB is investigating the foundering of the UK-registered large yacht Bayesian off the northern coast of Sicily on 19 August. We will refrain from further comments while the investigation is ongoing.”
The investigation will examine all relevant aspects of the incident, including the yacht’s design, stability, and operational procedures, as well as the impact of the weather conditions at the time of the sinking.
Lord Deben, a former UK cabinet minister and friend of Mike Lynch, reflected on the tragedy, noting, “Mike was at the beginning of a new life,” referencing Lynch’s plans for a fresh start following his acquittal in June of fraud charges in the U.S. related to the sale of his company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.
