Final body recovered from sunken superyacht near Sicily

Rescue divers in Italy have successfully located the final missing body, which is believed to be that of 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, from a superyacht that sank off the Sicilian coast. This new development comes after the recovery of five bodies by early Thursday morning, with the last body found trapped inside the yacht.

Hannah is the daughter of Mike Lynch, a British tech tycoon and owner of the yacht. While some bodies have been recovered, it is thought that Mike Lynch’s body is among those already retrieved, but official confirmation of the identities has yet to be provided.

According to a spokesperson from the onsite fire brigade, recovery teams faced significant challenges during the operation to locate the missing passengers after the superyacht went down on Monday. Luca Cari mentioned that the ongoing mission to find those unaccounted for from the U.K.-flagged vessel, named Bayesian, has been quite demanding due to adverse weather conditions.

The yacht sank in stormy seas approximately half a mile from the small fishing village of Porticello, not far from Palermo. In the wake of the incident, divers have been diligently working inside the yacht for the past two days, facing numerous difficulties due to the environment. “The job is very hard because there are large obstacles, and we have to operate in very narrow spaces,” Cari explained.

The recovery process is time-consuming, requiring divers to work in short shifts. Each diver is limited to approximately 12 minutes underwater, necessitating frequent rotations to ensure safety and effectiveness in the recovery efforts.

Among the missing individuals were two Americans, Christopher and Neda Morvillo. ABC News reported that Christopher is a partner at the law firm Clifford Chance and has previously represented Mike Lynch in a fraud case against Hewlett Packard. He has an extensive legal background, including service as a former assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Additionally, Morgan Stanley International’s Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Anne Elizabeth Judith Bloomer, are also confirmed to be among the missing passengers. The tragedy has left families and friends in a state of uncertainty as the search efforts continue.

The ongoing rescue operation underscores the complexities and dangers involved in maritime recovery missions, especially under adverse conditions. As teams work around the clock, the hope remains to provide closure to the families of those affected by this heart-wrenching incident.

As the situation develops, authorities remain committed to recovering all missing persons while prioritizing the safety of rescue divers and supporting the impacted families during this challenging time.

Source: ABC News