Mike Lynch yacht latest: Bayesian captain describes sinking horror as divers struggle to get inside boat

Local fisherman Giuseppe Cefalu has told the PA news agency through a translator that he saw a “tornado” close to the port of Porticello on Monday morning.

Mr Cefalu said he and his brother Fabio saw a flare in the sky at around 5am. The pair aided efforts to locate people in the water after the yacht sank, but Mr Cefalu said he only saw cushions and a buoy.

He said weather conditions on the morning of the sinking were “fierce”, with “very strong” wind and rain.

The one-year-old baby who was saved by her mother from the sinking Bayesian slept peacefully in hospital last night, local media has reported.

Charlotte Golunski, 38, a senior associate at Mike Lynch’s venture capital firm, said yesterday how she held her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, to stop her from drowning.

The Italian news agency Adnkronos has since reported that Sofia was kept in the Giovanni di Cristina Children’s Hospital, in Palermo, last night as a precaution.

Dr Domenico Cipolla, head of emergency department said: “She slept all night.”

Ms Golunski told la Repubblica yesterday: “It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.”

Judy Bloomer, who is one of the six people missing and the wife of Jonathan Bloomer, has been called a “brilliant champion for women’s health.”

Athena Lamnisos, the CEO of the Eve Appeal, where Ms Bloomer has been a trustee for more than 20 years, said she is “deeply shocked to hear the news that our very dear friend and her husband Jonathan, are among those missing”.

The charity said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter: “Our thoughts are with Judy and Jonathan’s family, as well as all those who are still waiting for news after this tragic event.”

Lawyer Chris Morvillo’s wife, Neda, is also missing it has now been reported by The Associated Press.

Mr Morvillo represented Mike Lynch in his case and has previously worked on other high-profile cases such as the criminal investigation surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Morgan Stanley, an investment bank, whose chairman Jonathan Bloomer is still missing has issued a statement this morning.

The spokesperson said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular the Bloomer family, as we all wait for further news from this terrible situation.”

The family of Stephen Chamberlain, who was not on the yacht but was the co-defendant in Mike Lynch’s trial, have described him as “a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend”.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary confirmed that Mr Chamberlain was killed on Saturday after being hit by a car while out running in Cambridgeshire.

His family released a tribute to the 52-year-old via the police force, saying: “Steve was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible. He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be deeply missed but forever in the hearts of his loved ones.”

James Catfield, the captain of the yacht who is recovering at the Termini Imerese hospital has spoken to Italian media for the first time.

La Repubblica quotes just one sentence from Mr Catfield: “We didn’t see it coming.”

Tribute has been paid to Jonathan Bloomer, who is believed to be among the missing, from the insurer Hiscox that Mr Bloomer chairs.

Its CEO has confirmed that Bloomer and his wife Judy are among those still missing this morning.

Aki Hussain, Group Chief Executive Officer, Hiscox, said in a statement to The Independent: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our Chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing, and with their family as they await further news from this terrible situation.”

The luxury superyacht is “practically intact” on the seabed despite sinking, Marco Tilotta, a firefighter diver from Palermo, has told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

He said in an interview that the £30 million yacht was lying on its side at a depth of 48 metres, but that divers were unable to gain access because of floating furnishings and other debris inside the yacht.

He said: “When we went down to the water around 5:30 a.m., we found a yacht that was practically intact. It is resting on its side on the starboard side. It has no gashes, no signs of impact.’’

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four inspectors had been sent to Sicily to conduct a “preliminary assessment,” Reuters reported.

One expert at the scene who declined to be named said an early focus of the investigation would be whether the yacht’s crew had had time to close access hatches into the vessel before the storm struck.