What's happened
On August 23, 2024, Italian rescuers recovered the body of the last missing passenger from the superyacht Bayesian, which sank off Sicily earlier this week. The death toll now stands at seven, including the daughter of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch. A judicial investigation is underway into the incident.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, the body recovered was that of Hannah Lynch, the last missing passenger, bringing the total death toll to seven. The report highlights the extensive search operation involving over 400 personnel and specialized divers. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post notes that the yacht's captain and crew are under investigation, with experts baffled by how a luxury vessel could sink so quickly. Giovanni Costantino emphasized that the crew's errors, not design flaws, led to the tragedy, indicating a potential shift in accountability within the maritime industry.
How we got here
The Bayesian, a 56-meter luxury yacht owned by Mike Lynch's wife, sank on August 19, 2024, after being struck by a waterspout during a storm. The yacht was carrying 22 people, including family and friends, to celebrate Lynch's recent acquittal in a fraud case.
Common question
More on these topics
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Michael Richard Lynch OBE DL FRS FREng is a British entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Autonomy Corporation and the founder of Invoke Capital, and has several other roles, including membership of the Council for Science and Technology which advises the
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Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 20 regions of Italy. It is one of the five Italian autonomous regions and is officially referred to as Regione Siciliana. It has 5 million inhabitants.