Mike Lynch Bayesian Sicily sinking mapped: Everything we know so far
IndependentAug 19
Five Bodies Found by Divers After Sinking of Superyacht Off Italy Coast
Above: A carabinieri vehicle parked near the harbor where search continues for missing passengers after a yacht capsized off the coast of Palermo, Italy, on August 19, 2024. Image copyright: Vincenzo Pepe/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Divers are continuing their search for a final person missing from the superyacht that sank off the Italian island of Sicily earlier in the week after five bodies were discovered on Wednesday — making the toll of those confirmed dead six people.
On Thursday, the Italian coastguard confirmed that the bodies of those recovered were of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley international chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, US lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo.
The Spin
Narrative A
While the boat was hit with severe weather, early indications show that the keel was not fully lowered, making the ship more susceptible to high winds, and that it was taking on a lot of water before it sank, meaning portholes were likely left open. It's likely that the yacht sank because of human error.
Narrative B
There are many competing theories about what sunk the boat, ranging from the height of its mast, whether portholes were open, and whether its keel was fully lowered. However, investigators are still determining answers to these questions and it's too soon to say with any confidence.