The family of Recaldo Thomas, a chef who tragically died in the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian last year, has raised serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. Thomas, 59, a Canadian-Antiguan cook, lost his life during the yacht’s capsizing off the coast of Sicily on August 19, 2022. His family believes his death could have been avoided, especially after an interim report revealed significant failures related to the yacht’s design and safety.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) released a detailed report outlining how the Bayesian sank amid a violent storm, with wind gusts exceeding 70 knots. It highlighted that the yacht had vulnerabilities that were not known to its owner or crew, as these issues were not included in the stability information book onboard.
James Healy-Pratt, the family’s lawyer, expressed deep concerns about failures in the yacht’s design, safety certification, and seaworthiness. He noted that the Bayesian’s unique single-mast structure, which was longer than a jumbo jet’s wingspan, acted like an aerofoil in the storm, contributing to its instability.
On that fateful day, Thomas was one of seven individuals, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, who lost their lives as the yacht capsized. The report described chaos on board as the yacht tilted violently, with people and furniture thrown across the deck. Some guests had to use drawers as makeshift ladders to escape as water flooded the ship.
Efforts are currently underway to recover the sunken yacht, although progress has been slow due to the recent death of a diver involved in the salvage operation. The MAIB expects the yacht to be lifted and brought to shore soon, as investigations into the incident continue.
Inquest proceedings in the UK are focusing on the deaths of Lynch, his daughter, and other victims, including Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy. The tragic sinking occurred during a celebration of Lynch’s recent legal victory in a high-profile fraud case.
Fifteen people were rescued from the vessel, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares. The family of Recaldo Thomas hopes that the investigation will bring to light the failures that led to this tragedy and prevent similar incidents in the future.