Recovery of Mike Lynch’s tragic Bayesian superyacht stopped after dying of diver | EUROtoday

A restoration operation for a superyacht sunk off the Sicilian coast has been paused after a diver died in the course of the salvage effort.

The yacht, named Bayesian, sank a 12 months in the past following a strong storm that claimed the lives of seven folks, together with UK tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter.

The vessel presently rests 49 meters (160 ft) beneath the floor. The diver, a specialist engaged on the restoration, died Saturday, in keeping with a spokesman for the corporate overseeing the operation. Further particulars surrounding the diver’s dying weren’t instantly accessible.

“We are saddened to confirm the tragic death of a specialist diver while doing underwater work earlier today (Friday),” mentioned David Wilson, spokesman for the British-based TMC Marine, in an emailed assertion.

He additionally mentioned authorities began an investigation and “all parties are offering their full cooperation.”

The Palermo Port Authority, in command of the investigation, declined to touch upon the reason for the diver’s dying.

The native prosecutor’s workplace has additionally sealed off the realm the place the 39-year-old Dutch diver died, native media reported.

Marine salvage consultants started work in early May to refloat the ship from the seabed off the Sicilian port of Porticello, importing some of the highly effective maritime cranes in Europe from Rotterdam.

The plan was to chop the yacht’s 75-meter (246-foot) aluminum mast — the second tallest on this planet — to permit the hull to be dropped at the floor extra simply. It was thought initially the operation would take from 20 to 25 days to salvage the yacht, however now it’s unclear when the Bayesian’s advanced restoration may very well be resumed.

Dutch-based corporations HEBO, a maritime providers firm from Rotterdam, and SMIT Salvage lead the salvage operation on website with assist from Italian specialists.

The 56-meter (183-foot)-long, 473-ton yacht sank throughout what seems to have been a sudden downburst, or localized highly effective wind from a thunderstorm that spreads quickly after hitting the floor. Prosecutors are investigating the captain and two crew members for potential accountability within the sinking.

In addition to Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his spouse, Judy, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his spouse, Neda, and the ship’s prepare dinner, Recaldo Thomas, died within the shipwreck.