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The death of Mike Lynch, described by a close friend as a “tragedy of Shakespearean proportions,” has left many in shock. Lynch, 59, was among the five bodies recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht, which sank off the coast of Sicily. The group aboard the yacht had gathered to celebrate Lynch’s recent acquittal in a long-running US fraud trial.
Brent Hoberman, founder of lastminute.com and a friend of Lynch, told the BBC, “It’s deeply tragic, and the timing feels like something out of a Shakespearean tragedy. He had just spent 12 years fighting to clear his name and was on a celebratory cruise with those who stood by him during that incredibly difficult period.”
This sad news follows the recovery of a fifth passenger from the sunken superyacht by divers in Sicily, adding to the mounting grief surrounding this devastating event.
Italian divers found the bodies in the same section of the yacht’s hull, now lying 150 feet underwater, half a mile off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo. Shortly after, two more passengers were retrieved, leaving one person still unaccounted for from the tragic incident that occurred on Monday morning.
Emergency services handled the recovery with dignity, transporting each body bag by patrol boats, then transferring them to a screened-off tent for registration before escorting them to Palermo’s main hospital.
The Bayesian capsized during a severe thunderstorm, reportedly due to a waterspout that caused its rapid sinking. As one of the world’s tallest yachts, its sudden disappearance has raised questions about the events leading up to the disaster.
Brent Hoberman, founder of lastminute.com and a friend of Lynch, told the BBC, “It’s deeply tragic, and the timing feels like something out of a Shakespearean tragedy. He had just spent 12 years fighting to clear his name and was on a celebratory cruise with those who stood by him during that incredibly difficult period.”
This sad news follows the recovery of a fifth passenger from the sunken superyacht by divers in Sicily, adding to the mounting grief surrounding this devastating event.
Italian divers found the bodies in the same section of the yacht’s hull, now lying 150 feet underwater, half a mile off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo. Shortly after, two more passengers were retrieved, leaving one person still unaccounted for from the tragic incident that occurred on Monday morning.
Emergency services handled the recovery with dignity, transporting each body bag by patrol boats, then transferring them to a screened-off tent for registration before escorting them to Palermo’s main hospital.
The Bayesian capsized during a severe thunderstorm, reportedly due to a waterspout that caused its rapid sinking. As one of the world’s tallest yachts, its sudden disappearance has raised questions about the events leading up to the disaster.
Driving the News
On August 21, 2024, the British superyacht Bayesian capsized during a severe thunderstorm off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, leading to a tragic loss of life.
The casualties include:
- Mike Lynch, a prominent tech entrepreneur and owner of the Bayesian.
- Hannah Lynch, Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter.
- Three others are believed to have perished
- The victims were aboard one of the world’s most luxurious yachts, a symbol of opulence and cutting-edge maritime engineering.
Why it Matters
- The incident has sparked serious concerns about the safety measures in place on even the most advanced yachts.
- The deaths of Lynch, a significant figure in the tech industry, and his daughter have sent shockwaves through both the business and maritime communities.
- The tragedy underscores the potential dangers of maritime travel, even under seemingly controlled circumstances, and the critical importance of robust safety protocols.
Go Deeper
- The Bayesian, launched in 2008 by the prestigious Perini Navi shipyard, was known for its state-of-the-art technology and luxury. It featured a record-breaking 246-foot aluminium mast and was considered a marvel of modern yacht design.
- Despite its reputation, the yacht’s stability was compromised due to several factors during the storm, including an improperly lowered keel and an open tender compartment, which allowed water to flood the hull.
- Maritime experts have expressed shock at the yacht’s rapid capsize, given its design pedigree, and have raised questions about the crew’s preparedness and response to the severe weather warnings.
- The ongoing investigation seeks to uncover the exact series of events that led to the capsizing, focusing on potential oversights and failures in the yacht’s operation and safety measures.
The Bayesian yacht most likely sank due to human error, an unsuitable attitude to the possible arrival of a disturbance.
An unnamed engineer
I am surprised that they were not tracking this extreme weather pattern as it moved across the Mediterranean… A well-built superyacht from a world-class shipyard should not have capsized so quickly.
Maritime Expert
Timeline of the Event
August 21, 2024
- Morning: The Bayesian capsizes during a severe thunderstorm off Porticello, Sicily.
- Afternoon: Italian divers locate the wreck in 150 feet of water; first two bodies are recovered, identified as Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah.
- Evening: Two more bodies are recovered, bringing the total to four of the six missing passengers. The bodies are transported to Palermo’s main hospital.
August 22, 2024
- Morning: Recovery efforts continue with divers and a sub-aqua drone searching the wreck; one passenger remains unaccounted for.
- Afternoon: Reports surface that the yacht’s keel was not fully lowered, and the tender compartment was not sealed, contributing to the sinking.
- Evening: Speculations of human error emerge; survivors are housed at a luxury hotel, shielded from the media. Experts express surprise at the lack of preparedness for the severe weather.
August 23, 2024 (and ongoing)
- Investigations continue into the causes of the accident, with particular focus on the yacht’s design, crew decisions, and emergency protocols.
