- Disaster on Sicily: Event Transforms into a Nightmare Festival
Mike Lynch was supposed to begin a new chapter in his life following his unexpected acquittal in a fraud trial in the USA. "The issue is: What do you do with it?", the British tech tycoon mused. Unfortunately, Mike Lynch is now missing: The 59-year-old was aboard the opulent yacht "Bayesian", which sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm.
Divers are searching for Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah, as well as four other individuals, two couples, at a depth of approximately 50 meters. Fifteen passengers were rescued, and one body was discovered, believed to be the ship's cook.
Those who survived recount harrowing experiences. "In the water, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I cried out for help, but all I could hear were the screams of others," a New Zealander named Charlotte recounts. She works for a law firm that represented Lynch in the trial. Traveling with her was her one-year-old daughter: "I held her up above water with all my might, extending my arms to prevent her from drowning."
The British tabloid "Daily Mirror" headlines, "Hero mom saves baby from sea hell." Lynch's spouse and her partner also survived. There were 22 individuals aboard, 12 guests and 10 crew members.
Lynch was exonerated in the USA.
In the UK, Lynch is hailed as the "British Bill Gates" by tabloid newspapers. He co-founded software firm Autonomy, which was sold to the US corporation Hewlett Packard for $11 billion (currently $9.94 billion) in 2011. The trial in San Francisco focused on this transaction.
The Autonomy acquisition is regarded as one of Silicon Valley's worst takeover blunders. Lynch and the former CFO Steve Chamberlain - who was tragically struck by a car while jogging just a few days before the shipwreck - are accused of misleading Hewlett Packard about Autonomy's financial health. However, the jury ruled in their favor.
Lynch organized a celebration for his trial victory on the "Bayesian". Among those missing are a financial analyst who testified on Lynch's behalf, a lawyer, and their partners. The CEO of specialist insurer Hiscox confirmed that the board chairman, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife are also missing.
The boat's name pays homage to British mathematician Thomas Bayes (1701-1761), whom Lynch has previously praised. Bayesian inference is the cornerstone of contemporary artificial intelligence and computer analysis.
What began as a festive occasion on the luxurious yacht off the stunning Sicilian coast turned tragic. The massive ship was moored a half-mile from the Porticello harbor on the night of Sunday to Monday. A severe storm struck Sicily's northern coast early Monday morning, with strong winds. A water spout hit the ship. This atmospheric phenomenon generates powerful ground vortices. The water spout struck the ship, causing its 75-meter mast to break.
It remains unclear why the ship was anchored a half-mile from the shore in such tumultuous weather. "We didn't see it coming," the "La Repubblica" newspaper quotes the "Bayesian" captain. He is also being treated in the hospital.
"It happened rapidly."
Initial reports from authorities indicate that the ship capsized immediately following the impact. It appears that not all passengers on the lower deck had time to evacuate their cabins before the ship sank. The captain of a nearby aid ship that rescued the survivors and transported them to safety described the disaster to Italian media: "The vessel tilted over, and within minutes, it was submerged. The incident occurred very quickly."
The "Bayesian" was built at the Perini Navi shipyard in Tuscany in 2008, as reported by "La Repubblica". It has been renovated and used for luxury cruises since 2020. The ship is 56 meters long and 11 meters wide. The yacht accommodates up to 12 guests in six cabins, including a luxurious master suite.
However, the search for the missing individuals is proving challenging. According to the fire department, specialized Italian divers have been able to enter the wreck and inspect areas below the bridge, but numerous obstacles and the confined space are hindering their progress. They are considering opening the ship underwater to gain access, but access to the lower deck cabins where the missing individuals are believed to be remains blocked.
The British tech tycoon, known as the "British Bill Gates," is widely celebrated in the UK after his acquittal in the USA trial. Bill Gates himself, along with other individuals including a financial analyst and a lawyer, are now missing following the sinking of the opulent yacht "Bayesian" off the coast of Sicily.
