Five Bodies Recovered from Sunken Superyacht in Sicily

Catania, Italy – Divers searching the wreckage of a superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily have recovered the bodies of five passengers, with one still missing. The incident has raised questions about the cause of the vessel’s rapid sinking, particularly as a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Rescue crews retrieved three bodies from the wreckage and transported them to port in Porticello. Two additional bodies were found within the vessel’s cabins. Among the deceased are British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

The 56-meter British-flagged yacht, The Bayesian, sank in a storm on Monday while moored offshore. Civil protection officials believe a waterspout struck the vessel, causing it to capsize and sink quickly.

Fifteen people escaped in a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby sailboat. The body of the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered earlier.

Lynch, a prominent figure in the UK tech industry, had invited friends to join him on the yacht to celebrate his recent acquittal in a fraud trial.

The yacht remains submerged at a depth of 50 meters, complicating recovery efforts. Divers are facing challenges due to the limited time they can spend underwater.

Investigators are gathering evidence for a criminal investigation into the incident, although no formal suspects have been identified.

Questions persist about the factors that led to the rapid sinking of the superyacht. Experts are examining the possibility of a retractable keel and the potential impact of a freak waterspout.

Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a maritime expert, noted that a lifting keel could have compromised the vessel’s stability, making it more susceptible to capsizing. He also emphasized the importance of watertight compartments in preventing rapid sinking.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further details about the cause of the yacht’s sinking are expected to emerge in the coming days.