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A manslaughter investigation has been launched into the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily, killing seven people.
British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were killed when their Baysian superyacht sank near Porticello at around 5am local time on Monday.
Five of the bodies on board the sunken yacht were found in one cabin that “did not belong to them,” prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said at a press conference on Saturday in the nearby town of Termini Imerese.
He told reporters that the Italian Air Force said the sinking was probably caused by a downburst – a localised strong wind that came from a thunderstorm, hit the ground and spread quickly.
Termini Imeres chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said authorities would investigate whether the captain, crew, supervisors, the shipbuilder and other parties might be held responsible for the fatal accident.
Meanwhile, tributes have been pouring in for those who died, including Mr Lynch’s daughter Hannah, who Bayesian chief stewardess Sasha Murray described as a “diamond in a sea of stars”.
Hannah’s sister Esme said her sister was “the most amazing, supportive and fun sister”.
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Tribute to ‘genius’ storyteller Mike Lynch
Susannah Gardan, a Suffolk native and close friend of the Lynch family, shared a series of heartwarming stories about Mike Lynch and who he was beyond being Britain’s biggest tech mogul.
Gurdun spoke of his “incredible ability” to explain difficult and complex concepts in a way that people could easily understand.
Gurdun’s wife, Angela Bacalez, and their daughters told him her husband had the ability to “come up with beautiful stories out of nothing.”
The next night, while clearing away dinner dishes, Mr. Lynch recounted a story about a hero about the same age as Mr. Gul’dan’s son who goes on a treasure-hunting adventure that Mr. Gul’dan called “magical.”
She added that she wasn’t surprised to learn that Hannah had begun to show “serious literary talent.”
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 09:29
Map: Where did the Bayesian sink?
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 09:03
Megamasts, moonpools and polar exploration pods: how the world of yachting has gone supersized
Megamasts, moonpools and explorer pods: how the world of yachting has gone supersized
The sinking of Mike Lynch’s “unsinkable” sailboat was not only a heartbreaking tragedy, but also a rare glimpse into the superyacht community. Here, Boat International’s Lucy Dunn looks at this secretive and innovative group and asks why such a high-performance sailboat sank…
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 08:43
Prosecutors say it’s likely a crime was committed
Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said he believed “it is highly likely that a crime was committed” over the sinking of the yacht.
He told reporters that the sinking could be the responsibility of the ship’s captain, crew, supervisors, the shipbuilder or others.
He added: “We will determine the responsibility of each element. That will be done through an investigation and we cannot do that prematurely.”
“My view is that a crime may have been committed – possibly manslaughter – but I would ask for time for the investigation to prove that.”
“The media’s timing is entirely different from that of the prosecution. A minimum amount of time is needed to reach a proper scientific conclusion.”
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 08:29
Summary: Post-mortem examination not yet performed
Prosecutors said no information has yet emerged from the investigation into the seven people who died.
“Before an autopsy can take place there are many preparatory steps that must be taken,” Raffaele Cammarano said at a news conference in Italy, responding to a question about whether a post-mortem examination had been carried out.
A translation of the meeting said the yacht was hit by a downburst and that Italian authorities would investigate how it affected just one yacht and not other nearby vessels.
The investigation is now an Italian matter with local involvement, but chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said he could not “definitely say whether the investigation will be conducted exclusively in Italy.”
“I’m confident that progress will be made on that front,” he added.
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 08:13
Mike Lynch’s net worth: How the billionaire made his money
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 07:59
Full report: Manslaughter investigation launched after Mike Lynch’s Baysian superyacht sinks
Ambrogio Cartosio, an Italian prosecutor from the nearby town of Termini Imerese, said his office had opened an initial investigation into negligence resulting in death and negligent shipwreck. No specific suspects have been named so far.
Please see below for the full report.
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 07:43
Hannah is a “diamond shining in the sea of stars” and vows to save her parents.
The daughter of tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died with his father on the luxury superyacht Bayesian, has been described as a “diamond in a sea of stars” by a survivor of the tragedy.
Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Baysian, who is believed to have been rescued from the yacht, said: “Anyone who knew her would know Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars – bright, beautiful and always sparkling.”
“What most people may not realize is that she had an exceptionally strong, deep and loving relationship with her parents, the people she loved more than anything.
“When she was swimming with them, she would often say that she would help them if anything ever happened.
“I have no doubt that the Irish-Latino fire that burned in her soul kept her courageous determination alive.”
Javed AhmedAugust 25, 2024 07:39
Who was in the Bayesian? How Mike Lynch’s inner circle celebrated the end of the billionaire’s 13-year legal battle
Bernie DavisAugust 25, 2024 07:30
What is a “downburst”?
According to a translation of the meeting, officials said the superyacht was hit by a downburst and Italian authorities said they would investigate how it affected one vessel and not others nearby.
A downburst is a violent gust of wind at ground level that arises from the strong downward air currents of a thunderstorm. The winds tend to radiate from a point source, in contrast to the rotating winds associated with a tornado.
Although downbursts typically last only a few minutes, they can be particularly dangerous to aviation.
For many years, most aircraft accidents have been blamed on aircraft, but the dangers are well predicted by meteorologists so pilots can avoid them.
Bernie DavisAugust 25, 2024 06:30