In a heartbreaking incident off the coast of Sicily, the body of renowned UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch was recovered from the wreckage of his yacht, the “Bayesian.”
The vessel sank during a storm early Monday, leading to ongoing searches for additional missing persons, including Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah.
On Wednesday, divers recovered four bodies from the submerged yacht, with another found on Thursday morning in Porticello, near Palermo. This grim toll now stands at six, following the earlier discovery of a man believed to be the yacht’s chef shortly after the vessel capsized.
The “Bayesian,” a 56-meter (185 feet) British-flagged sailing yacht, was anchored approximately 700 meters from Porticello when it was struck by a waterspout, a phenomenon resembling a mini-tornado, causing it to sink within moments. Among the 15 individuals rescued were Lynch’s wife and several notable figures, including Jonathan Bloomer, chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy. Tragically, Lynch and his daughter remain among the six reported missing.
The Republican Interest gathered that Lynch, often compared to Bill Gates for his significant contributions to technology, was in the spotlight recently after being acquitted of fraud charges related to the $11 billion sale of his software company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard.
Questions surrounding the circumstances of the yacht’s sinking have intensified, prompting an investigation by Italian authorities. Giovanni Costantino, head of the Italian Sea Group, which encompasses the yacht’s builder, Perini Navi, expressed that the tragedy might have been preventable. He indicated that mismanagement and failure to heed weather warnings contributed to the disaster, stating that there were indicators of a short circuit prior to the yacht taking on water.
Costantino emphasized that proper safety protocols, such as maintaining a lookout while anchored, were not followed, leaving passengers vulnerable during the storm. He lamented the situation, comparing the trapped guests to “mice in a trap.”
The “Bayesian,” which boasted the world’s tallest aluminum sailing mast at 75 meters, was built in 2008 and was reportedly owned by Lynch’s family. In light of this tragedy, UK marine accident inspectors have been deployed to assist the ongoing investigation in Palermo.
The Republican Interest reports that as the search continues, the tech community mourns the loss of a visionary leader and the loved ones of those missing hold onto hope for their safe return.
