Divers recover four bodies following sinking of luxury yacht off Sicily

Four bodies have been found inside the wreck of a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily, reports have said.
Bayesian, owned by the wife of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was carrying 22 passengers and crew and was anchored off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, when it capsized during a fierce, pre-dawn storm on Monday. Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are among the six people still missing.
Mr Lynch is of Irish heritage – his father was a fireman from Co Cork, and his mother was a nurse from Co Tipperary.
Fifteen of the 22 passengers and crew on board – including Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares – were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.
Three body bags were seen being taken to the port of Porticello on Wednesday afternoon following the sinking of the yacht at around 5am on Monday.
The head of Sicily’s civil protection agency Salvatore Cocina earlier confirmed two bodies had been found, with reports suggesting two more had been recovered from the vessel. He said there will be an investigation in due course, but the priority was to find those who are still missing.
As the three body bags were taken back to the port of Porticello, dozens of emergency services staff were waiting, and one was seen being put in the back of an ambulance.
The Italian Coastguard previously did not rule out the possibility that those missing may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank.
The Italian Coastguard previously did not rule out the possibility that those missing may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank.
Among those also missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.
Inspections of the yacht’s internal hull took place on Wednesday morning.
Sasha Murray (29), from Co Sligo, was among those rescued. She is staying with the other survivors at a resort in the small town of Santa Flavia. Among those also missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.
[ Sicily yacht disaster: relief in north Sligo as Irish woman alive after Bayesian tragedyOpens in new window ]
The body of the yacht’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was located shortly after the vessel sank.
The wreckage of Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50m (164ft).
Fire crews described the rescue operation as “complex”, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.
Inspections of the yacht’s internal hull took place on Wednesday morning. A helicopter was drafted in to help the search effort, as divers from the local fire service were seen entering the water with torches attached to their headgear.
A police boat and divers were also seen entering the water on Wednesday afternoon. – Agencies
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