- Two individuals retrieved from submerged watercraft
Approximately two and a half days post the submergence of the opulent yacht "Bayesian" off the Sicilian coast, two lifeless bodies were retrieved from the submerged vessel. Specialist divers discovered these deceased individuals inside the yacht at a depth of around 50 meters and subsequently brought them to the surface, as reported by Italian news agency Ansa, citing authorities. Initially, only the body of the ship's chef could be rescued. There's apprehension that as many as seven individuals may have met their demise.
The details surrounding the mishap, which took place on Monday, less than a nautical mile - roughly 900 meters - from the shore, remain unclear. The wounded captain of the "Bayesian" was subjected to hours of questioning by the police. He was quoted by "La Repubblica", saying, "We didn't anticipate it." In all, 22 individuals were aboard, invited by British tycoon Mike Lynch. The 59-year-old, along with his 18-year-old daughter, are presumed to have succumbed. His wife emerged unscathed.
Specialists are on a hunt for survivors
The submerged vessel is reported by the fire department to have leaned to one side on the seabed, making the rescue operation more challenging. On Tuesday, specialized divers from the fire department were able to initially inspect some areas beneath the bridge prior to reaching the passenger cabins on the lower deck. The likelihood of finding anyone alive is now next to nil.
The 56-meter-long "Bayesian" sank early Monday morning during a violent storm near the Porticello harbor, not far from the island's capital, Palermo - apparently within 60 seconds. Specialists are still baffled as to how this could have occurred. Conjectures range from an ajar hatch during a colossal wave to an incorrectly set rudder that governs the ship's draft.
The vessel underwent extensive renovation in 2020
The 15-year-old vessel underwent a comprehensive renovation in 2020. The ship was equipped with a system capable of reducing its draft by half: Under usual sailing conditions, it had a keel depth of nearly ten meters when the movable rudder was fully extended, enabling it to counteract the forces of the 75-meter-high mast. However, the draft could be reduced to about four meters - for instance, to enter a harbor.
Lynch is frequently referred to as the "British Bill Gates" by tabloid media in his homeland. The tech mogul sold his software company Autonomy in 2011 to US conglomerate Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion (now $9.94 billion). This was one of the most disastrous acquisitions in Silicon Valley's history.
Lynch and his former finance manager, Steve Chamberlain, who recently perished in a car accident while jogging, were accused of misrepresenting Autonomy's financial health to Hewlett-Packard. Nevertheless, a jury in San Francisco acquitted both individuals.
The wounded captain was questioned extensively by the police about the incident. Due to the challenging conditions, specialists continue to search for any potential survivors among the wreckage.
