Attempts to refloat tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht from the seabed have been paused after the demise of a “highly respected” salvage diver off the coast of northern Sicily.
Billionaire entrepreneur Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, have been amongst seven individuals who died when the 56-metre (184ft) Bayesian sank off the coast of Palermo on August 19.
The vessel presently rests 49 meters (160 toes) beneath the floor.
The diver, a 39-year-old Dutch nationwide, died on Saturday, in keeping with a spokesman for the corporate overseeing the operation.
The diver, who had been working for maritime salvage company Hebo Maritiemservice, was pulled to the floor, the place medics on board the Hebo 2 and Hebo 10 help ships tried to resuscitate him.
Italian-based AGI information company stated the person was hit by a chunk of steel as divers have been reducing the growth – the horizontal pole hooked up to the vertical mast of the ship – from the wreck of the Bayesian, however police insist that the exact explanation for demise remains to be unknown.
A spokesperson for TMC Marine, the UK-based marine consultancy main the salvage effort, confirmed the demise in a press release.
“This pause in activity is necessary for the investigations to be completed and to allow all salvage and associated teams to mourn the tragic loss of a highly respected salvage diver during yesterday’s underwater work.”
The Independent has approached Hebo Maritiemservice for comment.
The attempt to lift the yacht off the seabed is expected later this month and should help shed light on how a supposedly unsinkable vessel disappeared into the sea.
Hebo Lift 2, a multi-purpose floating barge equipped with diving and remotely-operated underwater vehicle systems and a support tug, arrived at the site, near the port of the fishing village Porticello, on Saturday.
A detailed analysis of the Bayesian and the surrounding seabed has since confirmed there has been no change to the superyacht’s condition since the previous inspection, meaning plans to raise the vessel can now go ahead.
An inquest has been opened into the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, in addition to Morgan Stanley International financial institution chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his spouse, Judy Bloomer, 71, who have been all British nationals.
US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his spouse Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan nationwide Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, additionally died within the sinking.
Fifteen folks, together with Mr Lynch’s spouse, Angela Bacares, have been rescued.
Mr Lynch and his daughter have been stated to have lived within the neighborhood of London, and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent.
The tycoon based software program big Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June final 12 months of fraud costs regarding the sale of the agency to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
The boat journey was a celebration of his acquittal within the case within the US.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mike-lynch-superyacht-bayesian-diver-dies-sicily-b2748455.html