A manslaughter investigation has been launched into the catastrophic sinking of the Baysian Yacht, which killed British billionaire Mike Lynch, his teenage daughter and other passengers and crew.
At least six people died in the tragedy after the superyacht capsized in rough weather on Monday morning, amid reports of sudden water spouting. Now, Italian authorities are investigating “a shipwreck and several cases of manslaughter” after the fateful superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.
The Termini Imerese prosecutor’s office, led by Ambrogio Cartosio, is trying to determine what caused the luxury liner to capsize off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo. According to Palermo Today, investigators will be examining security cameras as well as videos and photos from nearby homes.
Baysian yacht sinks in tragedy
The prosecution had previously questioned the yacht’s captain, James Cutfield, 53, who they say questioned him in detail about the events on the day of the incident. He told them it happened in “a few minutes”.
The day before, the Italian coast guard had identified the bodies found on the sunken £30 million yacht, including British billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also named by the rescue team. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacalez, survived.
The prosecutor’s office is expected to order an autopsy on the body found within hours. The trip was seen as a celebration following Lynch’s appearance in a US federal trial linked to the acquisition of his company Autonomy, charged with fraud and conspiracy to swindle $11bn (£8.4bn) from Hewlett-Packard. Among the guests were some who had supported Lynch throughout his ordeal.
Yesterday evening, State Fire Commissioner Carlo Dallopio said operations were proceeding slowly because of the need to ensure the safety of divers. He said: “The sixth body has not yet been found. We have not yet searched the entire vessel.
“We think there is a possibility that bodies are still inside the boat.
Captain Karsten Borner said crew aboard the nearby yacht Sir Robert BP spotted an emergency rocket fired from the life raft when it was about 150 to 200 metres from the Baysian. Mr Borner’s boat was at this point using its engines to stay in place until a passenger on the yacht spotted a flare.
His crew acted quickly, sending a dinghy to find the life raft and ferry the occupants to the yacht. He told Sky News: “We couldn’t see them anymore, they had disappeared from our radar. We were busy keeping our own ship on course. When they disappeared from sight it was clear something was very wrong.”