Explorers Discover 2 Bodies in Sunken Superyacht, Chances of Finding Additional Survivors Diminish

Divers have recovered the bodies of two people as they search the wreck of the superyacht Bayesian, which sank off the coast of Sicily earlier this week.

Italian rescue teams have not identified the two bodies or given details about their age or sex.

The 164-foot boat, owned by the wife of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was carrying 22 passengers when it capsized during a storm half a mile from the port of Porticello, near Palermo.

Fifteen people, including a 1-year-old child, were rescued from the sea but the boat’s chef, Ricardo Thomas, was found dead and six others were reported missing.

They included British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Also missing were Jonathan Bloomer—who has chaired Morgan Stanley’s London-based international arm since 2016—his wife Judy, lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife.

Lynch, who was acquitted of fraud charges in June by a federal jury in San Francisco, was hosting a celebration on board the luxury sailboat to mark the end of a 13-year legal battle.

The wreck of the Bayesian is at a depth of 150 feet on the seabed, making it challenging for recreational divers to access.

Rescue divers can only remain on the wreck for short periods while searching for survivors.

Vincenzo Zagarola, from the Italian Coastguard, indicated that the missing six individuals are presumed dead.

He added that the chances of finding them alive inside the hull were minimal.

Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the rescue teams, participated in the search for the Costa Concordia cruise ship that sank in 2012.

Cari remarked, “This situation is more complex. Everything is more constrained here.”

Experts suggest that survivors could still be alive in air pockets, citing past cases like British sailor Tony Bullimore’s survival in 1997.

Jean-Baptiste Souppez, from Aston University, acknowledged the possibility of air pockets forming due to the rapid sinking of the superyacht.

He added, “This is speculative and hard to predict accurately.”

‘A Great, Great Tragedy’

British ambassador to Italy, Edward Llewellyn, described the incident as a tremendous tragedy during his visit to Porticello on Aug. 20.

Britain dispatched investigators to the scene as the ship was British-flagged.

The skipper of another sailboat, Karsten Borner, recounted seeing the Bayesian during the storm and later locating a lifeboat with survivors.

He rescued 15 people before alerting the Coast Guard.

The Italian Coast Guard identified three more survivors and their nationalities who were crew members on the superyacht.

Associated Press, PA Media, and Reuters contributed to this report.