The boat, identified as the superyacht Bayesian, was carrying 22 people, including 10 crew members and 12 passengers, when it capsized and sank. The incident occurred approximately 700 meters off the Sicilian coast, with reports indicating that the vessel may have been struck by a waterspout, causing it to overturn and sink to a depth of 50 meters.
Among those missing are Mike Lynch, a UK tech entrepreneur, his daughter Hannah Lynch, and Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank International, along with his wife, Judy Bloomer. Two Americans, Neda Morvillo, a jewelry designer, and her husband Chris, are also unaccounted for.
The Italian Coastguard, which has been leading the search and recovery operation, has not yet formally identified the recovered bodies. According to Italian law, the deceased must be formally identified by a family member or close acquaintance before official certification of their deaths. It is believed that authorities are waiting until all six bodies have been recovered before notifying the families.
The first two bodies were recovered on Wednesday afternoon and brought to Porticello harbor, where they were transferred to waiting ambulances. Later that evening, two more bodies were retrieved, but the search was paused as night fell.
The rescue operation has been challenging due to the depth at which the yacht is lying and the fact that it is resting on its side, with debris obstructing access points. Professional divers have described the conditions as dangerous, with limited visibility and significant underwater debris.
Of the 22 people on board, 15 have survived, including a British mother who reportedly held her baby above the water to keep her safe during the incident. The body of the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan national, was recovered on Monday.
The Bayesian, a 56-meter yacht flying a British flag, was reportedly hosting passengers who were guests of Mike Lynch. The group was said to be celebrating Mr. Lynch's recent acquittal in a U.S. fraud case related to the sale of his software company, Autonomy.
Inspections of the yacht's internal hull were conducted on Wednesday morning, and a team of British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has arrived in Sicily to assist with the investigation.
Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily's civil protection agency, stated that while an investigation will be conducted, the current priority is to locate and recover all individuals who were on board the vessel.