Search crews have conducted further inspections of the luxury yacht Bayesian, which sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily, as the hunt for six people feared trapped inside the vessel continues. The Italian Coastguard has not ruled out the possibility that those missing, including technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, may still be alive, citing the possibility of air pockets forming as the yacht sank. Among the missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda.
Inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have arrived in Porticello to investigate the sinking, despite the Italian Coastguard stating they are not involved in the search for the missing people. Fire crews are accessing the vessel through natural entrances, while remotely controlled underwater vehicles and naval units are assisting in the search efforts. The body of a Canadian-Antiguan national, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered at the scene of the sinking, and his friends have spoken about his kind and positive personality.
The six missing tourists are feared dead, with the Italian Coastguard stating that they are “reasonably thought to be inside the boat” and that it sank quickly. The wreckage of the yacht is resting on the seabed off the coast of Porticello, at a depth of 50 meters. Fire crews described the operation as “complex,” with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.
Luxury Yacht Sinks in Storm off Sicilian Coast (Image via Getty)
Dr. Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer in mechanical, biomedical, and design engineering at Aston University, stated that the next 24 hours are “crucial” to finding survivors trapped inside the wreck. He noted that the speed at which the vessel sank and the fact that it remains intact and on its side could favor the formation of small air pockets inside. However, he emphasized that whether air pockets formed on the Bayesian is impossible to predict.
The rescued crew members, including Ms. Bacares, are recuperating at a hotel complex in Porticello, where authorities are gathering witness statements. Authorities are investigating whether hatches left open by crew members contributed to the sinking, as well as what onboard measures were taken in preparation for the storm. The ship’s captain, James Calfield, stated that he did not see the storm coming, and that the boat trip was a celebration of Mr. Lynch’s acquittal in a fraud case in the US.
The survivors of the sinking are facing a difficult recovery process, including Charlotte Emsley, who held her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, to stop her from drowning. Her father, James Emsley, was also treated in hospital. In a separate incident, Mr. Lynch’s co-defendant in his US fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire on Saturday.
