The devastating incident of the superyacht sinking off the coast of Sicily resulted in the tragic deaths of seven individuals, including banking boss Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer. Reports from Italian media suggest that the Bloomers, along with the other victims, suffocated to death in an air bubble as oxygen ran out, rather than drowning. This revelation paints a grim picture of the final moments onboard the Bayesian yacht as it sank in the midst of a violent storm.
The ill-fated trip, meant to celebrate British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch’s clearance of fraud charges, turned into a disaster as the yacht encountered a violent storm. Alongside the Bloomers, the casualties included Mr. Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch, his lawyer Chris Morvillo, Mr. Morvillo’s wife Neda, and the yacht’s chef Recaldo Thomas. The investigation revealed that the victims sought the last pockets of air as the vessel tilted to the right after sinking, indicating their desperate struggle for survival in the face of impending tragedy.
Italian prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the sinking, focusing on the boat’s captain, New Zealander James Cutfield, and two Britons, engineer Tim Parker Eaton and crew member Matthew Griffiths. Allegations have been made regarding the possible negligence on the part of the crew, with claims that external doors were left open during the storm, leading to the flood of the engine room. However, the three men involved in the operation have been allowed to leave Sicily as investigations continue to uncover the events that transpired within the fateful 16 minutes between the storm hitting the yacht and its rapid sinking in just 60 seconds.
According to statements provided by Mr. Cutfield and Mr. Griffiths, the yacht experienced turbulent conditions as the storm intensified. Mr. Cutfield noted the sudden tilt of the yacht to 45 degrees before it lurched in the opposite direction, ultimately leading to the tragic outcome. Mr. Griffiths recounted the chaotic moments of trying to save as many individuals as possible, highlighting the chaos and urgency of the situation as the yacht rapidly became submerged.
As post-mortems are conducted on the remaining victims, the repercussions of this tragic event continue to unfold. The superyacht is set to be raised from the seabed as part of the investigative process to shed light on the circumstances that led to such a devastating loss of life. The legal ramifications involving the crew members under investigation for suspected multiple manslaughter and culpable shipwreck underscore the severity of the incident and the quest for accountability in the wake of such a profound tragedy.
The sinking of the superyacht off the coast of Sicily stands as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictability of natural forces. The accounts of the survivors and the investigative efforts serve as a testament to the need for transparency, accountability, and improved safety measures in maritime operations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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