Sicilian yacht tragedy: British billionaire among victims
5:14 PM EDT, August 25, 2024
The prosecutor in Sicily on Sunday re-questioned the captain of the luxury yacht Bayesian, which sank near the coast of Palermo during a violent storm. Investigators are examining the incident, noting that one crew member died, and of the 12 passengers, half perished, including a British billionaire.
The tragedy occurred last Monday (August 20) early in the morning during a tornado. Seven people died, and 15 survived. The vessel belonged to British billionaire Mike Lynch, who, along with his daughter, was among the victims.
Italian media reported that the captain from New Zealand, James Cutfield, gave his testimony again on Sunday, almost a week later, regarding whether the yacht's hatches were closed.
This detail is particularly significant because the 184-foot-long yacht, which sank almost instantly, was considered unsinkable. Its designers assured that it could only go down if large amounts of water got in. Therefore, there are suspicions that a side hatch might have been left open while the yacht was anchored overnight.
Sicilian yacht disaster. Investigators ask where the crew was
Additionally, as noted by the Italian news agency Ansa, investigators want to determine the whereabouts of everyone on board at the time of the disaster. They are questioning how it is possible that only one of the 10 crew members died, while half of the 12 passengers did.
The agency reports that a key question is being raised: was the crew already on the upper deck aware of the storm and failed to alert those sleeping in the cabins?
The prosecutorial investigation concerns the maritime disaster and the unintentional manslaughter of many people. It should be noted that no charges have been filed against anyone at this time.
Nine crew members are staying in a hotel in Palermo that is off-limits to journalists. Several of the rescued have already left, including Angela Barcares, the wife of billionaire Mike Lynch, and the mother of his daughter Hannah, who perished. Among the victims are also Morgan Stanley International Bank President Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Lynch's lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife.
