Italian authorities have moved a body bag from a rescue boat to an ambulance at a Sicilian port as rescue divers continue their search for the missing passengers of the 'Bayesian' superyacht. The British-flagged vessel sank early Monday, claiming the life of at least one of the 22 people on board. Fifteen individuals were rescued, with six initially reported missing. One body was recovered on Tuesday.
The missing individuals include British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter, Morgan Stanley International director Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, as well as American lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife. Security camera footage captured the moments before a tornado sank the 184-foot yacht, showing the boat being battered by the storm before capsizing.
The body recovered from the vessel was identified as the onboard chef Ricardo Thomas. Angela Barcares, Mike Lynch's wife, survived the incident and recounted being woken as the boat tilted. Eyewitnesses described furious gales and hurricane winds that led to the yacht's sinking.
Since the ship sank, emergency crews have faced challenges in accessing the wreck due to obstacles and narrow passages. Divers have been limited to short durations underwater, with hopes of finding survivors diminishing. Investigators are still puzzled by the rapid sinking of the ship, with experts considering the event a rare occurrence.
Italy's fire brigade has warned divers of the limited time they can spend at the wreck site, emphasizing the need for swift and efficient operations. The United Kingdom's Marine Accident Investigation Branch will send inspectors to Palermo to assess the scene and gather preliminary information.
