The final body has been recovered from the wreckage of the superyacht Bayesian, which sank early Monday morning. 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, the daughter of the yacht’s owner Mike Lynch, was the last victim to be brought ashore. Hannah was set to begin her studies at Oxford University in September. The university expressed its deep sorrow over her death, stating it is “greatly saddened” by the loss.
Hannah Lynch had recently received her A-Level results and was enrolled to study English at Trinity College, Oxford. The university’s statement read: “The University is greatly saddened by the tragic death of Hannah Lynch, who held a confirmed place to study English at Trinity College this autumn. Trinity and the English Faculty had been looking forward to welcoming Hannah to the University, and we offer our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.”
The spokesperson for the Lynch family released a statement earlier today, after Hannah’s body was found.
“The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.
“Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.
“They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.
“Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”
Prosecutors considering negligent manslaughter charges
The yacht’s captain, 51-year-old James Cutfield, has reportedly been questioned by Italian authorities for two hours following the incident. He managed to survive along with 14 other passengers and crew members, including Mike Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares.
In an interview with Italian media, Mr. Cutfield stated that they “didn’t see it coming” when asked about the severe weather that led to the yacht’s sinking. His brother, Mark Cutfield, described him as a “well-respected” mariner with eight years of experience captaining luxury yachts and a history of working for a Turkish billionaire. Mark added that James had been involved in yacht construction for 30 years and had raced dinghies competitively in his youth.
A maritime expert, James Wilkes, has cautioned against prematurely blaming the crew for the sinking of the Bayesian. Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, suggested human error may have played a role in the tragedy. He stated the incident “could have been managed with an average amount of attention.” However, Wilkes also said it is “unfair” to cast blame before the facts are fully established.
Wilkes explained to Sky News that it’s common for seafarers to be blamed in incidents of this magnitude. However, he added, “None of us were there at the time when it happened; only the 15 survivors on board can tell us what happened.” He urged patience, suggesting that conclusions should be drawn only after witness statements are fully reviewed.
Cooperation between Italian and British investigators
Wilkes also highlighted the ongoing cooperation between the UK and Italy in the investigation. The British Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is involved because the vessel was UK-registered and many of the passengers were British. Italian officials are leading the investigation as the yacht sank in their coastal waters. A local prosecutor in Sicily has opened a file on the incident, and the investigation is expected to take several months before an initial report is released.
“The emotional tension and urgency will have abated,” Wilkes added. “Now the investigators will get on methodically with the investigation.”
