Tragedy Strikes Off Sicily: Four Bodies Found in Sunken Superyacht
Four bodies discovered in wreckage of superyacht off Sicily coast. Vessel owned by tech entrepreneur's family sank in severe storm, with 15 rescued and others still missing.
In a tragic incident off the coast of Sicily, divers have recovered four bodies from the wreckage of a sunken superyacht. The vessel, named Bayesian, encountered severe weather conditions approximately half a mile from the Sicilian fishing village of Porticello on August 19, 2024, at around 4 a.m.
Salvatore Cocina, head of the Sicily civil protection agency, confirmed the discovery to the Associated Press. The 183-foot-long British-flagged yacht was carrying 22 people when it sank, including 12 passengers and 10 crew members. Among the 15 individuals rescued, eight required hospitalization, including a one-year-old girl, though their conditions were not life-threatening.
The Bayesian, built in 2008 by Italian shipmaker Perini Navi, was owned by a company controlled by Angela Bacares, wife of Mike Lynch. Lynch, a 59-year-old British entrepreneur, is known for founding the tech venture capital firm Invoke Capital and co-founding Autonomy and Darktrace. The voyage was reportedly a celebration of Lynch's recent legal victory in a U.S. fraud trial related to the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard.
Among those missing are Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Jonathan Bloomer (Chairman of Morgan Stanley International) and his wife Judy, as well as attorney Chris Morvillo (a partner at Clifford Chance in New York) and his wife Neda. Bacares was among the survivors.
The incident highlights the dangers of severe weather at sea. Weather data suggests the yacht may have encountered a tornadic waterspout or severe thunderstorm. The storm's powerful winds potentially broke the yacht's 246-foot aluminum mast, reportedly one of the world's largest.
"For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea. Then I immediately hugged her again amid the fury of the waves."
This harrowing account comes from Charlotte Golunski, a guest who was rescued along with her one-year-old daughter, Sophie.
The Sir Robert, a Dutch-flagged sailing vessel anchored nearby, responded immediately to assist survivors before the Italian Coast Guard arrived. The yacht sank to a depth exceeding 160 feet, complicating rescue efforts. Initial attempts by fire brigade cave divers to search the wreckage were unsuccessful.
As the search continues, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of maritime travel, even aboard luxury vessels. The incident has shocked the yachting community and raised questions about safety measures for superyachts in severe weather conditions.
