Final victim of Bayesian yacht tragedy recovered as investigation continues

The body of Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of British magnate Mike Lynch, was recovered by Fire Brigade divers off the coast of Porticello, Palermo, following the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian. Her body, found inside a cabin at a depth of approximately 50 meters, marks the seventh and final victim of the disaster. This recovery operation follows the discovery of her father’s body the previous day.

The search efforts resumed early this morning, with the recovery of Hannah Lynch’s body posing significant challenges due to its location within the submerged yacht. Yesterday, Carlo Dall’Oppio, the head of Italy’s National Fire Brigade, alongside emergency director Marco Ghimenti, visited Porticello to thank the personnel involved in the search and recovery operations.

Meanwhile, investigations into the incident are ongoing. The Termini Imerese prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry into potential charges, including shipwreck, disaster, multiple homicide, and injury. The focus is on the actions of the yacht’s captain, New Zealander James Cutfield, and the first officer, 22-year-old Frenchman Matthew Griffith. Investigators are considering a series of errors, from the partially raised mobile keel, which may have compromised the vessel’s stability, to open hatches that allowed water ingress, contributing to the rapid sinking of the yacht.