Inquest Reveals Mike Lynch Drowned in Superyacht Tragedy Amid Ongoing Investigations into Additional Fatalities
The tragic drowning of tech magnate Mike Lynch, alongside three other British individuals, is under scrutiny following the unfortunate sinking of the superyacht Bayesian off Sicily’s coastline. This revelation surfaced during a series of newly initiated inquests in the UK.
The ill-fated adventure involved Lynch, a 59-year-old billionaire entrepreneur, his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch, as well as Jonathan Bloomer, the 70-year-old chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his 71-year-old wife, Judy Bloomer. All four were aboard the ill-fated yacht.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown of Suffolk Police reported that the Bayesian sank swiftly, though the reasons behind this sudden maritime disaster remain unclear. The sinking occurred between 4:15 AM and 4:45 AM on August 19. Authorities immediately launched search operations in the hours that followed, continuing unabated in the days that ensued, ultimately discovering the bodies in the cabins of the yacht.
Each of the four inquests was opened individually and subsequently paused in Ipswich, pending a further hearing scheduled for April 15 of the following year.
According to Mr. Brown, at the time of the incident, the Bayesian was located 0.8 nautical miles from the quaint fishing village of Porticello, carrying a total of 22 individuals, comprising 12 crew members and 10 guests. Amidst severe weather conditions that August day, seven lives were regrettably lost.
As it stands, the preliminary medical verdict for Mr. Lynch indicates drowning, established through a post-mortem conducted by Professor Antonia D’Argo. His death was officially recognized on August 22, following the recovery of his body.
Investigations into the causes of death for Ms. Lynch, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Bloomer, continue, with Dr. Tomasso D’Anna overseeing their post-mortem examinations. Mr. and Mrs. Bloomer’s deaths were confirmed on August 21, while Hannah Lynch’s demise was verified on August 23.
Furthermore, it has been noted that the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has initiated a probe to unravel the circumstances leading to the Bayesian’s sinking, alongside separate investigations being launched by Italian authorities. This level of inquiry aims to clarify the reasons behind this maritime tragedy.
Mike Lynch and his daughter resided in the London area, whereas the Bloomers called Sevenoaks in Kent home, as noted by Mr. Brown. The list of the deceased extends to include U.S. attorney Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo, as well as Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef aboard the vessel.
In a poignant moment, Suffolk’s senior coroner, Nigel Parsley, probed Mr. Brown on the timeline of future developments, indicating that the information flow largely hinges on the progress of the MAIB and the Italian authorities. The officer’s concise response was an affirmative “yes.”
Consequently, the coroner suspended proceedings until April 15 to allow for thorough investigations to unfold.
Reflecting on Mike Lynch’s illustrious career, he established the software behemoth Autonomy in 1996. Just this past June, he was acquitted of grand-scale fraud allegations concerning the firm’s sale to Hewlett-Packard back in 2011. This yacht trip was intended to be a celebration of his recent exoneration across the pond.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
