By PALERMO, Sicily — Rescue divers resumed their search Tuesday morning for six passengers still missing after the British-flagged yacht Bayesian sank in a violent storm off the northern coast of Sicily. The ongoing operation faces significant challenges as divers struggle to navigate the cluttered wreckage of the 183-foot vessel.
The disaster, which occurred early Monday morning about half a mile from the Sicilian fishing village of Porticello, has claimed at least one life. The body of the yacht’s chef was recovered during initial efforts. Fifteen people have been rescued, but several high-profile individuals remain unaccounted for.
Among the missing are:
– British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his teenage daughter, Hannah
– Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy
– Attorney Chris Morvillo, a partner at Clifford Chance in New York, and his wife, Neda
Lynch, recently acquitted of fraud charges in the United States related to the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard, was reportedly celebrating his legal victory on the yacht owned by a company controlled by his wife, Angela Bacares.
Luca Cari, a spokesman for the fire rescue service, told The Washington Post that divers resumed work around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday but have encountered significant obstacles. “Tables and chairs were blocking entrances, and cables and wires were forming a sort of mesh,” Cari explained. “At the moment we are working on land to plan for an intervention and above all to create new openings.”
While divers have found “no indication” that any of the missing people are on the ship, Cari said one “operational hypothesis” is that individuals may still be inside their cabins, given the early-morning timing of the sinking.
The Bayesian encountered rough weather at about 5 a.m. Monday, with passengers reporting lightning, thunder, and violent waves. Pietro Asciutto, a local fisherman, described the scene to the Italian news agency ANSA: “It was floating, still, then suddenly vanished. I saw it sink with my own eyes.”
Charlotte Golunski, one of the survivors, recounted her harrowing experience to Italian media. “For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea,” she told Giornale di Sicilia, referring to her 1-year-old daughter, Sophie. “Then I immediately hugged her again amid the fury of the waves.”
Golunski and her partner, James Emslie, were guests of Lynch on the yacht. She described the chaotic moments in the water to La Repubblica: “It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help, but all I could hear around me was the screams of the others.” Eventually, Golunski, Sophie, Emslie, and eight others managed to board an inflatable lifeboat.
The Sir Robert, a Dutch-flagged sailing vessel anchored nearby, responded immediately to assist survivors before the Italian coast guard arrived on the scene.
British authorities are expected to deploy a team of four inspectors to conduct a preliminary assessment of the disaster. A spokesperson for the British foreign ministry stated, “We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Sicily, and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Angela Bacares, Lynch’s wife and the owner of the Bayesian through her company Revtom, was among the 15 survivors, according to a source speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the business and legal communities. Clifford Chance, the law firm where Chris Morvillo is a partner, released a statement expressing their shock and sadness. The firm also confirmed that their senior associate, Ayla Ronald, survived the incident along with her partner.
Morgan Stanley International and Hiscox, where Jonathan Bloomer holds leadership positions, also issued statements of concern for their missing executives.
Three teams of divers, including two from Italy’s coast guard and one from the fire brigade, are involved in the ongoing search-and-rescue operation. The yacht sank to a depth of more than 160 feet, complicating recovery efforts.
The Bayesian, built in 2008 by Italian shipmaker Perini Navi, was considered a luxury vessel. As the search continues, authorities are working to determine the cause of the sinking and to recover any remaining survivors or victims.
The incident highlights the potential dangers of seafaring, even for well-equipped luxury vessels, and has drawn international attention due to the high-profile nature of the passengers involved.
