A diver who rescued tech billionaire Mike Lynch’s daughter Hannah from the ill-fated yacht Bayesian has described with heartbreak the search through rubble inside the wreck as his team raced against time to reach survivors.
Giuseppe Petrone, 49, commander of Italy’s fire brigade diving team, led the operation to find survivors and bodies after the tragedy earlier this month, in which seven people died when the 180-foot superyacht sank.
Mr Petrone, who has been involved in numerous underwater rescue operations, led a team of experienced colleagues for almost a week in searching cabins on the Bayesian, some 50 metres below the sea surface, off the coast of Porticello near Palermo in Sicily.
He said of Hannah, who was due to start at Oxford University next month: ‘That young girl should have written important pages of her life, but unfortunately the story ended very differently.’
Hannah was the last of the seven victims found on the Bayesian. She was in a cabin at the end of the yacht, trapped under the debris.
Hannah was a pupil at Latymer Upper School in West London and had earned a place at Oxford to study English Literature
Giuseppe Petrone (R) of the Italian fire brigade diving team led the search for survivors
British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah both died in the Bayesian tragedy when the superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily
The ‘Bayesian’ sailboat, in Palermo, Sicily, undated
Conditions underwater were described as “complex” and “obstructive” for divers who were called in from across Italy to search for the bodies of those on the ship.
Divers could only go down for 10 minutes at a time due to the depth of 50 meters, which is much deeper than most recreational divers are qualified to reach
Mr Petrone said the search was a “difficult operation”, adding: “It was carried out in total safety with 27 divers, with 11 specialists in underwater cave rescues and eight trained in the use of an oxygen mixture during the decompression phase.
‘They were able to dive for a total of 50 minutes, but they were only able to spend 13-14 minutes on the yacht.
‘The yacht was on the right side. All the cabins were invaded with floating debris, mattresses, sheets, cupboards.
‘It was the large amount of floating debris that made the operation so difficult.’
He added that after ensuring there were no passengers or crew in the water, they focused on safely searching the yacht’s interior.
When asked if there were any dangerous moments, he replied: ‘None, thanks to the safety team involved.’
‘We had two divers focused on searching the yacht, four in the water as a safety team and two on the surface.
‘For every two divers who went in, there was a team of six watching over their safety and ready to intervene at any sign of danger.’
He added: ‘The huts were dark and there was little visibility, making the environment hostile and the situation increasingly difficult.’
“She (Hannah) was the furthest away. We’re talking about a situation where it took four or five dives to get one meter further.”
When asked which of the seven victims he had found most difficult to recover, Mr. Petrone replied, “Hannah.”
He added: ‘It was such a relief to find her after almost five days.
‘Until then the tension had been unbearable.’
Mr Petrone added: ‘I have three children myself and one of them is a little older than Hannah was, so it hits hard.
‘She was just starting out and had her whole life ahead of her. But at the same time, you have to keep your emotions in check and keep a level head.
“You have to remember that this is a dangerous environment and that you have to go back the way you came in. Also, there is a good chance that something will block your path if you turn around and go back to the surface.”
Mr Petrone explained that from what he had seen from the Bayesian rigs the vessel was “undamaged”, adding: “The visible part of the yacht was intact, the right side was clearly on the seabed and the mast, as far as I could see, appeared to be intact.
‘But I can’t stress enough how hostile the environment is. There is hardly any natural light and what was a real problem were the mattresses floating in from the huts.
‘They gave us real trouble and Hannah was found behind one. The space was also very tight in the yacht, for such a large ship the space for us to move around was limited.
“What motivated us was the determination to find the seven victims so they could be reunited with their families.
“It was perhaps one of the most difficult and emotional operations my team and I have ever undertaken. We are well trained and professional, but we also have heart and emotions.”
The British-flagged Bayesian ship sank in the early morning of August 19 during a storm off the coast of Sicily.
While it is suspected that the yacht was struck by a sudden meteorological event, investigators are currently investigating the possibility that the crew is responsible for multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence.
Under maritime law, the captain is fully responsible for the ship, its crew and the safety of all persons on board.
Seven people, including six passengers and a crew member, drowned in the tragedy.
Passengers included British tech magnate Mick Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.
Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley and former chairman of Mike Lynch’s software company Autonomy, was also named among those killed in the disaster.
His wife, psychotherapist Judy Bloomer, also died.
Christopher Morvillo, a partner at law firm Clifford Chance and attorney to Mike Lynch, and his wife, Neda Morvillo, were both sadly killed in the accident.
Recaldo Thomas, a chef who worked aboard the Bayesian yacht, was tragically named among the victims.
Mr Petrone said the search was hampered by debris floating in the huts
The ‘Bayesian’ Sailboat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, undated
Dr. Lynch with his wife Angela, who managed to escape the disaster
No charges have been officially filed against the crew members, and under Italian law, the fact that an investigation is underway does not necessarily mean that charges will be filed. It is up to an investigating judge to decide whether there is enough evidence to go to trial, after the case file has been presented.
Earlier this week, a former captain of the doomed Bayesian shared his theory about the possible causes of the ship’s sinking on August 19.
Stephen Edwards, who captained the ship between 2015 and 2020, said he was “100 percent” confident the hull would not have been left open overnight. There are no windows or portholes on board that can be opened.
While avoiding contributing to wild speculation surrounding the incident, he assured that the ship was “sound and seaworthy in design and, to the best of my knowledge, well maintained as such.”
If the ship had listed more than 45 degrees, it could have resulted in flooding and loss due to flooding. [it] “could not be controlled,” he said, and weather conditions could create “extreme circumstances” leaving little time to respond.
