Tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer are among six missing after their ship sank near Sicily
Newly released CCTV footage shows the final moments of the Bayesian luxury yacht before it sank off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on Monday. The yacht was engulfed in a sudden storm. Six passengers, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his friend, Morgan Stanley chairman and investment banker Jonathan Bloomer, remain missing. Divers are continuing to search the wreckage.
The 56-meter superyacht was anchored about half a mile off the coast when it sank in the early hours of Monday morning. It was reportedly carrying 22 people – 12 crew members and ten passengers. 15 people have been rescued so far, including Lynch’s wife, who owns the ship. One person, the ship’s chef Recaldo Thomas, has been confirmed dead.
On Wednesday, Italian media reported finding two additional bodies inside the ship, but their identities have yet to be confirmed. The Italian Coastguard believes that all missing persons could still be inside the boat, as they wouldn’t have had much time to escape. The vessel is said to have sunk quickly.
In the CCTV footage released on Tuesday, the iconic aluminum mast of the ship, which stood at a record 72 meters, can be seen in the distance before disappearing completely into the sea within minutes.
The incident has reportedly left industry experts “at a loss,” according to The Independent, as the luxury yacht was presumed to have top-class fittings and safety features, which should have prevented the tragedy.
Matthew Schanck, a maritime rescue expert, told the outlet that if the tragedy was indeed caused by extreme weather and what appears to be a waterspout, it could be classified as a ‘black swan event’ – a rare and unpredictable situation that is often considered unavoidable.
Rescuers have continued their efforts to enter the yacht, which is said to be lying nearly intact on the seafloor, to search for the missing persons. However, their attempts have been hampered by the “very confined” spaces, according to fire department spokesman Luca Cari. Given that divers are limited to 12-minute underwater shifts and debris is preventing access to the ship’s cabins, rescuers have also deployed remotely controlled underwater vehicles to aid in the search.