Report: 4 Victims on Mike Lynch’s Yacht Trapped in Air Bubbles Before Suffocation

Recent autopsy results suggest that four victims of a superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily may have perished after becoming trapped in air bubbles and suffocating. This tragic event involved the superyacht Bayesian, which sank last month, claiming seven lives in total, including that of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch.

La Repubblica reported that the autopsies indicated that the four individuals died from what is termed “atypical drowning.” Investigators found no water in their lungs, trachea, or stomach, pointing to a probable scenario in which they ran out of air while stuck in air pockets within one of the yacht’s cabins.

The autopsies were performed by pathologists at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Palermo’s Polyclinic. The four victims identified include lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, as well as Jonathan Bloomer, the international chair of Morgan Stanley, and his wife Judy. These procedures took place over the course of Monday and Tuesday.

Tiziana Lenzo, a press officer for the Polyclinic, noted that due to ongoing investigations, the hospital could not release further details about the autopsy findings.

The 183-foot superyacht sank on August 19 while navigating stormy conditions near Porticello, prompting a rapid response from the Italian Coast Guard to initiate search-and-rescue operations. There were a total of 22 individuals onboard at the time of the incident, of which 15 survived. Tragically, seven were confirmed dead, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter.

Matthew Schanck, the chairman of the UK’s Maritime Search and Rescue Council, previously mentioned that divers were likely trying to locate air pockets where survivors could be trapped. Nick Sloane, involved in the Costa Concordia salvage operation, emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that divers had only a small window of opportunity to rescue anyone potentially stuck inside the vessel.

In the aftermath of the sinking, scrutiny has fallen on the yacht’s crew. Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini Navi—the company that constructed the Bayesian in 2008—asserted that the crew failed to adhere to protocols and were not adequately prepared for the inclement weather conditions. He stated that the yacht sank in a mere 16 minutes and was designed with stability in mind.

Franco Romani, a nautical architect who contributed to the yacht’s design, claimed that the Bayesian was built to withstand rough seas. However, he speculated that an open side hatch might have allowed water to flood the vessel, ultimately leading to its sinking.

At a press conference last month, investigators revealed that five bodies were discovered in the same cabin of the yacht. In light of the circumstances surrounding the disaster, Italian prosecutors have initiated a manslaughter investigation. The yacht’s captain, James Cutfield, along with two crew members—engineer Tim Parker Eaton and crew member Matthew Griffiths—are currently under investigation.

This tragic incident has sparked a broader discussion about safety protocols in maritime travel, especially regarding the responsibilities of crew members during adverse weather conditions. As investigations continue, families and loved ones of the victims are left in mourning, grappling with the loss of life in such an unforeseen and devastating circumstance.

Source: Business Insider