Tragic Yacht Incident in Sicily

By Giselda Vagnoni and Guglielmo Mangiapane

PORTICELLO, Italy (Reuters) – The body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch was recovered on Thursday from the wreckage of his family yacht, which sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm. A senior Italian official reported that Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, is still missing.

The British-flagged Bayesian, a 56-meter-long (184-foot) superyacht carrying 22 people, sank minutes after a violent storm emerged on Monday while anchored near Porticello, close to Palermo. Lynch, 59, who was among the UK’s most recognized tech entrepreneurs, invited friends to the yacht to celebrate his recent acquittal in a U.S. fraud trial.

Seven individuals are feared dead in this tragedy, with 15 survivors, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, the yacht’s owner. Italian officials confirmed the recovery of the bodies of Jonathan Bloomer, former chair of Morgan Stanley International, Christopher Morvillo from Clifford Chance, and their wives.

The onboard chef, Recaldo Thomas, was found near the wreck on Monday. Mariani, an interior ministry official, mentioned that Hannah Lynch’s body might have been swept out to sea instead of remaining in the yacht. Rescuers are facing challenging conditions as they search the submerged vessel, which is lying on its side at a depth of 50 meters (165 feet).

A judicial investigation is ongoing, with experts puzzled, noting that the Bayesian, manufactured by the reputable Italian yard Perini, should withstand severe weather. Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, suggested crew negligence in following safety protocols as contributing factors.

The ship’s captain, James Cutfield, and eight surviving crew members have not publicly commented on the disaster. Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio has scheduled a press conference on Saturday for updates.

Specialist divers have been searching for three days under challenging conditions, with comparisons drawn to the larger scale search conducted for the Costa Concordia disaster in 2012. Once all bodies are recovered, discussions on salvaging the vessel will occur.

According to the yacht’s tracking system, it took 16 minutes from the storm’s onset to the sinking, indicating significant water intake. Investigators will examine whether doors or hatches were left open, particularly a main door on the yacht’s left side. Costantino emphasized the vessel’s robust design, questioning the impact of the waterspout that reportedly struck the yacht.

Maritime law places ultimate responsibility on the captain for ship and crew safety. The captain of the Costa Concordia serves a 16-year sentence for negligence in his role in that 2012 tragedy.