Mike Lynch yacht sinking latest: Five bodies found in same cabin as manslaughter investigation launched

The final moments of the remaining victims of the Bayesian disaster have been revealed in a press conference earlier today.

Local prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said the meteorological event that hit the vessel was most likely a “downburst”, a very strong downward wind that is an intense but relatively frequent event at sea, rather than a water spout which involves rotating winds like a whirlwind or tornado.

He said that the passengers were all probably asleep at the time of the storm which was why they failed to escape.

Bentivoglio Fiandra, chief of Palermo’s fire brigade and part of the divers’ rescue team, explained that the Bayesian sank stern-first and then rolled onto its right side.

“As a result, the victims sought refuge on the left side of the boat, where the last air pockets remained as the vessel was sinking,” he said.

The divers found five bodies in the first cabin on the left and one, Hannah Lynch’s, in the third cabin on the left.

The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and in any case should not have sunk as quickly as it did.

Inspector Vincenzo Nardoni, a diver drafted in from the fire brigade’s unit in Naples: “The bodies were all wedged in tight spots, with furniture on top or beside them. They were all stuck there.”

According to the Telegraph, Raffaele Cammarano, one of two prosecutors leading the case, told a press conference earlier: “There can be no certainty about the behaviour of the passengers on board, at the moment.

“It is probable they tried to escape but we have no real details about that, that will emerge in the course of the inquiry.”

Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese, said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. No specific suspects have been named.

My colleague Jabed Ahmed reports:

Susannah Gurdun, a close family friend of the Lynch’s from Suffolk, shared a series of heartfelt stories about Mike Lynch and who he was beyond being one of Britain’s biggest tech moguls.

Ms Gurdun told of his “thrilling ability” to explain difficult and complicated concepts in a way people could easily understand.

His wife, Angela Bacares, and his daughters were telling Ms Gurdun of his ability to “conjure beautiful stories out of thin air”.

The following evening, Mr Lynch told a story as the dinner plates were cleared about a hero, who was the same age as Ms Gurdun’s son, embarking on adventures in search of treasure.

She called it “magical”.

She added that she was not surprised to learn that Hannah had begun showing “serious literary promise”.

“It is beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led… but I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain,” she said.

“Not just because I witnessed Mike’s incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family.

“To those of us who knew him in that way, this family achievement – in partnership with Angela – was every bit as special and beautiful as the ones he pulled off in the world of tech and science.

“Perhaps even more so – in that he did it all simultaneously.

“He was an extraordinary human being and it was – truly – a privilege to have known him.”

The chief stewardess of the tragic Beysian superyacht, has paid tribute to Hannah Lynch, 18, after her body was recovered from the wreck.

Sasha Murray, released a statement, saying: “Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars. Bright, beautiful and always shining.

“What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything.

“While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them. I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive.”

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 55m (180ft) vessel – including a mother and baby – but another seven remain missing.

A body, believed to be that of a chef on the boat, is later found near the wreck.

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italy’s fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were “unsuccessful” because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht’s internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to the port of Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Mr Macauda could not confirm how long it would take to retrieve the shipwreck of the sunken yacht.

“Everything depends on the availability of the owners and the timeframe of the retrieval of the wreck and of course all that has to be submitted to the port authorities and in parallel of course there will be the inquiry results and it’s only really then that we will be able to authorise the operation,” he said, according to a BBC translation.

“I can’t say, like some experts who have already spoken on the subject, that it will be eight weeks.”

He made clear that the owners will bear the full cost of retrieval, although he could not estimate the figure.

Another yacht, the Sir Robert BP, was about 150 to 200 metres from the Bayesian when extreme weather hit.

Its crew helped to rescue 15 people from the stricken vessel.

Italian officials said they would be looking at how the downburst could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels.

The vessel had been deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer – Italian shipyard Perini Navi.

The Bayesian was hit by a downburst, according to Mr Cammarano, which are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

Officials will look into the safety equipment on the sunken vessel.

Mr Cammarano was asked about whether there is a black box and if the hatches were left open.

He said investigators do not have exact information about the black box and that the first phase of the inquiry will look into it.