The family of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is devastated and in shock, a family spokesman said in a statement, after the last body of his 18-year-old daughter Hannah was found from the wreck of his yacht in Palermo.
“The Leeds family are devastated and in a state of shock. She is supported by relatives and friends”, the text of the announcement states.
“Their thoughts are with those affected by the tragedy. They would like to sincerely thank the Italian Coast Guard, the emergency services and those who helped in the rescue operation.”
“Their only wish now is that their privacy be respected at this time of indescribable pain.”
The lifeless body of 18-year-old Hannah Lynch was found trapped at a depth of 50 meters inside a yacht cabin.
At the same time, the Italian authorities are launching a manslaughter investigation into the incident.
According to Italian media, investigators are looking into “wreck and multiple negligent homicide” offenses against “unknown persons”.
Causing a shipwreck is a separate offense under the Italian penal code and those found guilty of this offense can face up to 12 years in prison.
A press conference has been announced by the prosecutor’s office for tomorrow morning, during which more details are expected to be revealed.
Human error behind the tragedy?
Questions remain unanswered about the causes of the maritime tragedy in Palermo, Italy that turned the luxury yacht Bayesian into a wet grave, killing six people.
The yacht was hit by severe weather and according to Giovanni Constantino, chief executive of Italy’s Sea Group, which builds and sells pleasure boats, the maritime tragedy it may be due to a number of human errors.
“Why was the ship in this condition? The storm was predictable. We have to wonder why none of the fishermen in the port of Porticello went out to sea that night? Why didn’t anyone go out to sea? Everyone knew about the storm. And if even a fisherman knew, why the captain of such a ship, with guests of such level and importance, with 12 guests on board… Why was he not on alert?” Constantino asked Sky News.
He told the Financial Times it took 16 minutes from the time the wind “caught” the yacht and began dragging its anchor in Porticello harbor until it finally sank, enough time for the crew to warn passengers of the danger.
“The torture lasted 16 minutes. It sank not in a minute, as some scientists said. It sank in 16 minutes,” Costantino said. “You can see it from the maps, from the (Automatic Identification System) tracking map,” he added.
“The captain should have prepared the boat and put it on alert, just like the Sir Robert Baden Powell, which was moored 350 meters away, which was built in 1957 and handled the weather exceptionally well,” he said. Costantino.
The captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell told Italian media that the weather conditions were unpredictable but his crew was prepared.
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