New doc explores details of superyacht Bayesian's sinking

by · Mail Online

A rescue diver has revealed why Hannah Lynch's body was found last out of the six missing victims on superyacht Bayesian. 

Hannah, 18, the daughter of British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, was one of the passengers who went down with the luxury yacht on August 19 when the boat was caught up in a storm off the coast of Palermo, Sicily. 

The other five who didn't survive the tragedy were Hannah's father Mr Lynch, English banker Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith, American lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Nada. The yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas also tragically drowned. 

A new documentary has revealed fresh details of the vessel's sinking and the devastating days that followed as rescue teams desperately tried to find those who were missing. 

Hannah was the last of the five bodies to be discovered, with a rescue diver explaining her 'petite' size made her more difficult to find.

Speaking on the new ITV documentary The Sinking of a Superyacht, the diver said: 'Because the girl was small, petite, her body was hidden behind mattresses, so it took longer to find her.'

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch both died in the Bayesian tragedy when the superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily
The Bayesian sank on August 19 when it was caught up in a storm off the coast of Palermo, Sicily 

He added that the discovery of the 18-year-old's body was particularly devastating for those involved in the search due to her young age. 

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Photo of ill-fated Bayesian superyacht minutes before it sunk 'shows door was closed'

'When you are recovering a child or a young person it does affect you more than an adult,' he said. 

The other five victims were found together in a separate compartment, suggesting that they had time to get together after the boat sank, having initially been asleep in their cabins. 

A rescuer said: 'The victims were found in the lower level. We found the people in one room. Bearing in mind the time of the sinking, they were all in their rooms sleeping. 

'The fact that they were found together means - it's just a theory - they got together to escape, or to comfort each other.' 

The documentary also explored the possibility that the yacht was struck by a downburst, which is a strong downward and outward gushing wind system which blows down rapidly. 

Rescue personnel and divers operate in search back on August 21 off the coast of Porticello
Rescue workers standing by after recovering the body of Hannah Lynch off the coast of Porticello
The British-flagged Bayesian superyacht (pictured) was owned by tech magnate Mike Lynch

Dr Karsten Haustein, a climate change researcher at Leipzig University, said the average speed of a downburst is 90mph. 

He added that people swept up in a downburst do not have time to react due to the 'sudden' nature of it, which could explain how the ship sank so quickly. 

 It comes as a photo of the ill-fated Bayesian taken minutes before it sank appears to show that a door on the vessel was closed, after claims it had been left open.

The snap, taken by a passenger on board a neighbouring yacht, contradicts allegations that the crew mistakenly left a door open and allowed water to flood the boat.

It was taken 14 minutes before the Bayesian went down during a freak storm off the coast of Sicily. 

Three crew members are being investigated by prosecutors in Sicily after they were accused of leaving the large door open on the rear port side of the 56-metre yacht.