The diver engaged in preliminary efforts to raise the sunken superyacht Bayesian, owned by the late tech mogul Mike Lynch, tragically lost his life while working underwater in Sicily.
This 39-year-old diver from the Netherlands passed away on Friday while preparing to cut the ship’s main mast.
Reports indicate that he was working for the maritime company Hebo. A week prior, marine rescue experts arrived at Porticello, a fishing port near Palermo, to assist in the operation of raising the 56-meter-long superyacht.
Authorities have stated that the exact cause of death remains unclear. An initial examination of the body showed no visible injuries or burns. Investigators speculate that the diver may have encountered a medical issue while submerged.
Another line of inquiry involves the possibility that after the divers used a blowtorch to sever the ship’s boom, a piece of debris—possibly metal—struck the man. Footage recorded by an underwater camera has been reviewed but stopped just before the incident occurred.
A representative from the UK-based consulting firm TMC Marine, which is overseeing a group of specialized rescue experts, mentioned that they are cooperating fully with authorities investigating the accident. “We’re providing full support to our salvage teams during this difficult period, and our thoughts are with the diver’s family,” he added.
The luxury yacht, which features a 75-meter mast, sank quickly off the coast near Porticello on August 19, 2024, when a fierce storm struck just before dawn. Among the victims were Lynch, referred to as the “Bill Gates of England,” and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, part of a total of seven casualties.
Last June, Lynch had celebrated his acquittal—exempt from US fraud charges linked to Hewlett-Packard’s 2011 acquisition of his company—with a scenic voyage around Sicily alongside his wife, Angela Bacares, who co-owns Bayesian with their daughter.
Also on board were Chris Morvillo, a former psychotherapist and lawyer, along with his wife, jewelry designer Neda Morvillo, and Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, with his wife, Judy. All four perished in the tragedy, along with the yacht’s chef, Ricardo Thomas.
Surprisingly, fifteen people managed to survive, including Bakaro.
The wreck is currently situated 50 meters underwater in the Bay of Porticello and is under close observation by Italian authorities.
Insurance estimates project that the salvage operation could reach around $30 million (£23 million), a cost the underwriters for Bayesian will need to cover.
The Italian Coast Guard is in charge of overseeing the operations and maintaining security in the area, stating that the entire retrieval operation for Bayesian could extend over a period of 20 to 25 days.
