Politics

Final Victim Recovered from Sunken Sicilian Superyacht Tragedy

Friday 23 August 2024 - 14:00

In a somber conclusion to a five-day search operation, Italian coast guard divers have recovered the body believed to be that of Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch. This marks the end of the recovery efforts for the seven victims of the Bayesian superyacht disaster off the coast of Sicily.

A CNN team on location witnessed divers bringing the final body bag ashore at the Porticello harbor, concluding an intense search operation that faced significant challenges due to the wreck's location. The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged vessel, sank on Monday following a violent storm that severed its mast, one of the world's tallest.

The recovery operation was complicated by the wreck's depth of nearly 50 meters (160 feet) underwater. Divers had only 12 minutes to reach the site and explore its cabins before needing to resurface, making the retrieval of all seven bodies a painstaking process that spanned several days.

Before the recovery of Hannah Lynch's body, Italian authorities had retrieved six other victims, including her father, Mike Lynch, whose body was identified on Thursday, according to an Italian interior ministry official. The first body recovered on Monday is believed to be that of the onboard chef, Recaldo Thomas.

The Bayesian had 22 passengers and crew members on board when it sank. Fifteen individuals were rescued on Monday, while seven were initially reported missing. Among those lost were Morgan Stanley International director Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy Bloomer, as well as prominent American lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

As the recovery phase concludes, Italian authorities are now focusing on understanding the rapid sinking of the superyacht. Unverified security camera footage released on Wednesday appears to show the moment a waterspout—a tornado-like phenomenon that spun over Sicily early Monday—caused the vessel to sink.

A witness, who owns a nearby villa, described the shocking speed of the incident after reviewing his CCTV footage. "In just 60 seconds, you can see the ship disappear," he told the Italian outlet ANSA. "You can see clearly what’s happening. There was nothing that could be done for the vessel. It disappeared in a very short time."

However, Giovanni Constantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns the vessel's manufacturer, has suggested that a series of avoidable "mistakes" may have contributed to the tragedy. Speaking to the Italian newspaper 'Corriere della Sera', Constantino stated that given the forecasted bad weather, the ship's crew should have taken precautionary measures. These included securing the hull, closing all doors and hatches, and gathering guests at the ship's designated assembly point.

As investigations continue, questions remain about the circumstances that led to this maritime disaster. The loss of life and the rapid sinking of such a technologically advanced vessel have shocked the yachting community and raised concerns about safety protocols in extreme weather conditions.

The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea and the importance of stringent safety measures, even for the most sophisticated vessels. As families mourn their loved ones, the maritime industry will undoubtedly scrutinize this incident closely to prevent similar occurrences in the future.