Manslaughter investigation launched into superyacht sinking
Authorities have said they are looking into "all options"
Last updated 24th Aug 2024
A manslaughter investigation has been launched into the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily.
Six people died in what prosecutors in Italy called a "very grave tragedy", including Mick Lynch - a well-known British business tycoon - and his daughter Hannah
The incident took place off the Sicilian town of Porticello at around 5am local time on Monday (August 19th) when the Bayesian yacht sank.
Speaking at a press conference following the incident, public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said on Saturday (August 24th) that the victims "desperately tried to save themselves" before being found by rescuers.
"First of all, four of them. Jonathan Bloomer the banker, Christopher Morvillo the lawyer, and all four of them were retrieved from inside the yacht which was 50 metres down," Cartioso explained.
"Then, later, the other two were also retrieved. Michael Lynch on the 23rd, yesterday, and then the 18-year-old daughter of Michael Lynch, Hannah, was found yesterday morning."
Lynch's family were based in the village of Pettistree in Suffolk, while Hannah had just finished attending school in west London when the accident took place.
Following this, Cartosio announced that a manslaughter investigation was being opened into the incident, and that "all options are being considered" as Italian authorities try to piece together what happened.
He added that investigations were now being carried out against "unknown persons".
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