Italian authorities have confirmed the recovery of a fifth body from the wreckage of the superyacht "Bayesian," which sank off the coast of Sicily earlier this week during a violent storm. The discovery, announced by Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily's Civil Protection Agency, comes after days of intensive search efforts and has deepened the tragedy surrounding the sinking, which claimed the lives of several high-profile individuals.
The superyacht, known for its towering mast-one of the world's tallest-capsized early Monday morning after being caught in a sudden and severe storm near Porticello, a village close to Palermo. Of the 22 people aboard, 15 were rescued, but seven were initially reported missing. The first body recovered was that of the yacht's chef, Ricardo Thomas, who was believed to have been onboard when the vessel sank.
As of Wednesday, four additional bodies were recovered by divers, who have been working under difficult conditions to navigate the submerged wreck. The identities of the bodies have not been officially released, adding to the uncertainty and distress for the families of those still unaccounted for.
Among those missing are British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy; and prominent American lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda. Lynch's wife, Angela Barcares, survived the incident and has recounted the harrowing experience to local media while recovering in a Sicilian hospital.
#Breaking NEW VIDEO of the tornado water spout that took out the super yacht that was docked in Sicily Italy
There has been some controversy over how and why this happened. They are still looking for the 6 missing passengers here’s the list.
1. The owner Mike Lynch.
2.… pic.twitter.com/KWjgA4aPxS — Todd (@tparon) August 21, 2024
Barcares described the terrifying moments when the yacht began to tilt at around 4 a.m., shattering windows as the vessel was battered by the storm. "We weren't concerned at first," she told La Repubblica, "but when the windows broke, we knew we were in trouble." She was among those who managed to escape in a lifeboat before the yacht sank.
The yacht, which had been anchored approximately half a mile from the shore, was reportedly struck by a waterspout-a rare and powerful type of tornado that can form over water. Surveillance footage from a nearby villa captured the final moments of the Bayesian as it was overwhelmed by the storm, tilting violently before disappearing beneath the waves in under a minute.
The search and rescue operation has been challenging due to the depth of the wreck, which lies around 50 meters (approximately 150 feet) underwater. Divers have had limited time-only about 12 minutes per dive-to explore the wreckage and search for survivors or recover bodies. On Tuesday, divers gained access to the yacht's control bridge and other internal areas, but the operation has been described as "complex" due to narrow passages and debris.
The sinking of the Bayesian has left experts puzzled as to how the superyacht, built by renowned Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, could have succumbed so quickly to the storm. Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, referred to the incident as a "black swan event"-an extremely rare and unpredictable occurrence that challenges existing safety standards.
"The extreme weather conditions, combined with the unique design of the yacht, created a perfect storm, if you will," Schanck said. "This tragedy will likely prompt a reevaluation of safety protocols and vessel construction standards."
In the aftermath of the disaster, the United Kingdom's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) announced that a team of inspectors would be sent to Palermo to conduct a preliminary assessment of the scene. Meanwhile, Italian rescue teams have pledged to continue their search efforts at dawn on Thursday, as hopes of finding additional survivors continue to dwindle.
The Bayesian, registered under a UK flag, was on a Mediterranean sailing vacation that was meant to be a celebration for Mike Lynch, who had recently been acquitted of fraud charges in the United States. Lynch had invited several close friends and legal associates on the trip, including Bloomer and Morvillo, both of whom had played key roles in his defense.
