Diver dies all the way through salvage operation to get better Mike Lynch’s superyacht

A diver who used to be running on initial operations to carry the overdue tech mogul Mike Lynch’s sunken superyacht, Bayesian, has died all the way through underwater paintings in Sicily.

The 39-year-old Dutch diver died on Friday whilst running underwater in preparation to chop the send’s mainmast.

According to preliminary experiences, the person used to be hired via the maritime corporate Hebo, whose barge arrived final week in Porticello, a fishing port close to Palermo, the place marine salvage mavens had been wearing out preparatory paintings prior to an operation to boost the 56-metre superyacht.

Police mentioned the suitable reason for dying used to be nonetheless unknown. A initial exam of the frame printed no visual accidents or burns. Investigators consider the diver could have suffered a clinical drawback whilst submerged.

An selection line of inquiry is that when divers used a blowtorch to chop the vessel’s growth the person used to be struck via dislodged particles – most likely a work of steel. Footage captured via underwater cameras bring to a halt in a while prior to the incident.

A spokesperson for the British-based consultancy TMC Marine, which can oversee a consortium of skilled salvage consultants enterprise the challenge, mentioned: “We are saddened to confirm the tragic death of a specialist diver while doing underwater work earlier today [Friday]. The circumstances of the accident are being investigated by the authorities and all parties are offering their full cooperation. We are giving every support to the salvage team on site at this heartbreaking time and our thoughts are with the family of the deceased.”

On 19 August 2024, the luxurious vessel, with a 75-metre (246feet) mast, used to be anchored simply off shore close to Porticello when it used to be struck in a while prior to daybreak via a violent typhoon. Lynch, as soon as described as Britain’s Bill Gates, and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, have been some of the seven sufferers.

Lynch, who in June final 12 months used to be cleared of fraud fees in america when it comes to the acquisition of his corporate, Autonomy, via Hewlett-Packard in 2011, used to be taking part in a lavish voyage round Sicily to rejoice his acquittal along Hannah and his spouse, Angela Bacares, whose corporate owned the Bayesian.

Among the ones onboard have been Lynch’s legal professional from Clifford Chance, Chris Morvillo, and his spouse, the jewelry fashion designer Neda Morvillo, and Morgan Stanley International’s chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his spouse, Judy Bloomer, a former psychotherapist. All 4 died within the incident. The yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, used to be the 7th one who died.

Fifteen other folks survived, together with Bacares.

The wreckage sits at a intensity of 50 metres within the bay of Porticello, which is below surveillance via Italian government.

Insurers estimate the salvage will price about $30m (£23m), a invoice the Bayesian’s underwriters will pick out up.

The Italian coastguard, which is supervising operations and patrolling the safety perimeter, mentioned the total operation to get better the Bayesian may just take from 20 to 25 days, climate allowing.