A luxury yacht sank near the coast of Sicily earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six others. Italian prosecutors have launched a manslaughter investigation into the incident.
Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio announced the investigation findings during a press conference, attributing the sinking of the 184-foot long “Bayesian” super yacht to the actions and handling of the crew rather than weather conditions.
So far, the investigation is not targeting any specific individual.
The yacht, flying the British flag, sank rapidly off the coast of Porticello near Palermo during a violent storm on Monday. It had 22 passengers and crew on board, with 15 survivors including Lynch’s wife (whose company owned the yacht) and the yacht’s captain.
Captain James Cutfield and other survivors have been questioned by authorities this week. Another prosecutor present at the press conference, Raffaele Cammarano, stated that Cutfield has been “very cooperative” with the authorities’ inquiries.
The retrieval of the “Bayesian” from the seabed, lying intact at a depth of 164 feet, may assist investigators in determining what occurred, although this operation is expected to be complex and costly.
Cammarano mentioned that it is in the interest of the shipowner and management to salvage the vessel, and they have assured full cooperation.
He indicated that the pilot, crew, and passengers are not legally required to stay in Italy, but authorities hope they will cooperate with the investigation.
Maritime experts remain perplexed by this shipwreck. The “Bayesian” was constructed by the Italian luxury yacht manufacturer Perini. Experts noted that a yacht of this caliber should be able to withstand any storm, making its rapid sinking even more puzzling.
Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group to which Perini belongs, asserted to Reuters this week that the “Bayesian” is “one of the safest boats in the world” and should not have sunk under normal circumstances.
In an interview with Italian media, he suggested that the disaster was a result of a series of “indescribable, irrational errors,” with the storm being anticipated.
When announcing the investigation results, Prosecutor Cartosio stated that there are multiple possible parties at fault: it could be solely the captain’s issue, involve all crew members, or even the guards. All relevant factors are being examined to determine accountability for the mistakes.
The past four days have seen divers recover seven bodies of the missing victims from nearly 164 feet underwater, with the last body believed to be Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah.
Other bodies found on Wednesday and Thursday include Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International Inc., and his wife Judy, as well as Chris Morvillo, a partner at the law firm Clifford Chance, and his wife Neda.
The only deceased crew member, ship’s chef Ricardo Thomas, was found near the sunken vessel hours after the tragedy.
Cammarano suggested that passengers might have been sleeping when the storm hit, hence not being able to escape.
At 59, Lynch was one of the UK’s most renowned tech entrepreneurs. He had invited friends onboard to celebrate June’s ruling in the US dismissing fraud charges by HP against him.
Lynch, often likened to the UK’s Bill Gates, founded the UK’s largest software company, Autonomy, which was sold to HP for $11 billion in 2011. However, HP accused him of fraud, causing the deal to collapse and sparking a prolonged legal battle.
In June, a San Francisco jury acquitted Lynch of all charged crimes. Morvillo represented him in court, with Bloomer serving as a character witness.
Five bodies were discovered inside a compartment, leading authorities to speculate they may have been seeking potential air pockets as the ship sank. However, a conclusion cannot be drawn until the vessel is raised.
Cammarano mentioned that due to the survivors’ traumatic experience, they have not been subjected to drug and alcohol tests as they require treatment.
Numerous unresolved questions remain for investigators, including whether there were black boxes on board.
“The shipwreck was sudden,” Cammarano emphasized. “We must wait for the salvage operation on the vessel.”
While the exact cause of the “Bayesian” super yacht’s sinking remains unconfirmed, many believe it was struck by a waterspout. The Coast Guard reported the yacht being hit by the waterspout, and the European Severe Weather Database recorded its presence at the same time.
Cammarano noted that authorities currently cannot confirm if certain hatches on the ship were left open, which might explain why the vessel sank so quickly. Witnesses claimed it disappeared beneath the waves within 60 seconds after being hit by the waterspout.
(Information sourced from CNN and Reuters reports)