With the search for the missing persons continuing at night rescue divers are facing a really dangerous operation getting inside the sunken sailing yacht BAYESIAN and according to local news reports, rescue teams have managed to enter the yacht by smashing through a glass window after a local blacksmith has crafted jacks that were used to break through the 3cm glass.
First article was out yesterday with our Italian team members in the area too – https://maltashipphotos.com/casualties-super-sailing-yacht-bayesian-sinks-after-storm-with-fatalities-19-08-2024/
Resting on her side at 50m (165ft) beneath the surface it will be pretty dark on the wreck, as there’s not a lot of ambient light inside apart from lots of debris.
On top of this, at that depth the rescuer has just 10 minutes to work on the wreck before being forced to stop and allow excess nitrogen which has built up inside their body to dissipate. Otherwise they risk getting a dangerous condition known as decompression sickness, also known as the bends.
The maximum depth most experienced recreational divers are allowed to go to is 40m (130ft), with most dives occurring at depths significantly less extreme than that.
The search efforts for the 6 missing souls who are still unaccounted for after the sailing yacht BAYESIAN sunk offshore Porticello, Palermo, Sicily on Monday 19th August Morning, have entered their third day today Wednesday 21st August, 2024.
Doctors who treated the 15 people who were rescued said they spoke of “darkness” as the boat capsized. Dr Fabio Genco described “apocalyptic scenes” as rescued guests and crew searched for their loved ones.
According to crewmembers no one recalls seeing the mast snap of the 56 metre super sailing yacht which sunk last Monday 19th August offshore Porticello, Palermo, Sicily. BAYESIAN was struck by a freak waterspout which led to the yacht heeling at around 20 degrees to starboard. As crewmembers were securing items, the heeling angle began to increase rapidly until the yacht started sinking.
The crewmembers who were up on deck were able to evacuate the yacht with minor injuries. The yacht is understood to have sunk in just twelve minutes, and it is believed that a major water ingress from the top down would have caused the sinking. This is based on the fact that no breaches have been reported in the yacht’s hull, and the fact that the yacht should have been able to remain afloat with two flooded compartments.
4 British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrived today in Palermo, and are expected to carry out a “preliminary assessment” of the site.
Diving Rescue Operation commenced around 0930 hrs and at 1545 hrs Sicily’s civil protection (Protezione Civile) confirmed that 2 bodies were found in the sunken yacht, one of them a male person.
90 minutes later 2 more bodies were found with the search continuing for the two remaining souls who are still unaccounted for.
Italian authorities have not confirmed the identities of those recovered this afternoon. According to Italian law, the bodies must be formally identified by a family member, or a person close to the victims, before the deaths can be officially certified.
Around 1900 hrs the fifth body inside the yacht was found with Protezione Civile confirming it and at the time of writing rescue personnel was working to retrieve it.
Meanwhile Tributes have been paid to the Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, BAYESIAN’s a chef whose body was recovered near the sunken yacht area by Guardia Costiera.
It is understood that the yacht was being used to celebrate Lynch’s recent victory in a 13-year £8 billion fraud acquittal after last June, a US jury cleared him of all charges, which were related to the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP).
Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos (MSPAP) together with our Italian Team Members and Malta Ship News will continue to monitor this situation as always and update you further……..
