TERMINI IMERESE, Italy. An Italian prosecutor has initiated a manslaughter investigation following the tragic sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily, which resulted in the deaths of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and six others. The yacht, named Bayesian, capsized during a sudden storm earlier this week.
Ambrogio Cartosio, head of the public prosecutor’s office in Termini Imerese, announced that the investigation would focus on potential crimes of multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence. While the incident appears to have been triggered by an abrupt meteorological event, Cartosio emphasized that it is “plausible” that human error or negligence could have contributed to the disaster.
The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) yacht built by the high-end Italian manufacturer Perini, was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo, when it was struck by a fierce pre-dawn storm on Monday. Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was among those who perished, while his wife and 14 other survivors, including the yacht’s captain, managed to escape.
“The disaster would be even more painful if the investigation showed it was caused by behaviors that were not aligned with the responsibilities everyone needs to take in shipping,” Cartosio stated.
The survivors, including the yacht’s captain, James Cutfield, have been questioned by authorities but have not made any public statements about the circumstances of the sinking. According to Raffaele Cammarano, another prosecutor involved in the case, Cutfield was “extremely cooperative” during questioning.
Naval experts have expressed surprise at the sinking, noting that a yacht of Bayesian’s caliber should have been able to withstand such a storm. The vessel now lies intact on its side at a depth of 50 meters (164 feet), and efforts to salvage it are expected to be both complex and costly.
“It’s in the interests of the owners and managers of the ship to salvage it,” Cartosio added, noting that they have assured their full cooperation.
Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, dismissed the possibility of design or construction flaws, attributing the tragedy to a series of “indescribable, unreasonable errors” by the crew.
Cammarano further explained that the storm was likely caused by a “downburst,” an intense but common meteorological event involving a strong downward wind, rather than a more severe phenomenon like a waterspout. He added that the passengers were likely asleep during the storm, which may have hindered their ability to escape.
The search for bodies has been ongoing throughout the week, with the last victim, Hannah Lynch, recovered on Friday. The other victims, including Lynch’s lawyer Chris Morvillo, Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Bloomer, and onboard chef Recaldo Thomas, were recovered earlier in the week.
Mike Lynch, 59, was a prominent figure in the UK tech industry and had been celebrating his acquittal in a U.S. fraud trial when the tragedy struck. The investigation remains ongoing, with the possibility that individuals may be formally charged as more evidence comes to light.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
