Guests aboard the Bayesian superyacht made desperate attempts to escape when the vessel capsized off the coast of Sicily last year. A recent safety report from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) sheds light on the tragic incident that occurred on August 19, 2022.
The report reveals that the yacht was caught in a storm with winds reaching over 70 knots. This sudden shift in weather caught both the crew and the owner, British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, by surprise. According to the report, the yacht tipped violently, rolling 90 degrees in just 15 seconds. This chaos led to injuries among several passengers, including Lynch and the captain.
As the boat began to flood, guests used furniture as makeshift ladders to escape. Some climbed up walls, while others found themselves trapped in rooms as water rushed in. It was a frantic scene as people scrambled to get out. One crew member, who was on lookout duty, was even thrown overboard by the force of the storm.
The captain organized an evacuation, but many guests had to improvise. Some used cushions as life rafts while others relied on drawers to help them reach safety. The report indicates that despite the crew’s efforts, several guests were trapped in an air pocket until they received help from those outside.
Among the seven people who lost their lives in the incident were Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. Other victims included Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, along with a chef on board and a U.S. lawyer and his wife. In total, fifteen people were rescued, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares.
This tragic event took place during a celebratory trip for Lynch, who had recently been acquitted of fraud charges in the U.S. related to the sale of his company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard.
Efforts to recover the sunken yacht are ongoing, but progress has been slow, especially after a diver died during salvage operations. The investigation continues as the MAIB looks into the circumstances surrounding the capsizing and the safety measures that were in place.