Seven people died after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, with their bodies recovered less than a week after the shipwreck.
British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those recovered after the Bayesian sank near Porticello early Monday morning.
Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, along with Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also recovered at the scene.
Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into their deaths and here the PA news agency provides a timeline of events leading up to that announcement.
– Monday August 19
The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.
Fifteen people are rescued from the 55m (180ft) vessel – including a mother and baby – but another seven remain missing.
A body, believed to be that of a chef on the boat, is later found near the wreck.
It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter are among six tourists that remain missing.
– Tuesday August 20
The search continues for the six tourists missing.
It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.
Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.
Italy’s fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were “unsuccessful” because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.
The operation is later described as “complex”, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.
The Italian Coastguard tell PA they fear the six missing tourists have died, with their bodies trapped inside the luxury yacht.
It is confirmed that the body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the yacht.
Tributes pour in for the cook, with his friend Gareth Williams telling the BBC: “I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit.”
– Wednesday August 21
The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht’s internal hull.
A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.
A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.
Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.
Body bags are seen being taken to the port of Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.
Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.
– Thursday August 22
The search resumes for the remaining missing person.
The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.
A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.
Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.
The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.
– Friday August 23
The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, later confirmed to be 18-year-old Hannah.
Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey building full of water”.
The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.
A green body bag is seen being brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.
A spokesperson announces on behalf of her family that they are “devastated” and “in shock” after the bodies of Hannah and her father were recovered.
Hannah’s sister Esme pays tribute to her “little angel”.
– Saturday August 24
A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town – Termini Imerese.
Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, according to a translation.
The press conference also hears from the prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, the fire brigade chief of Palermo, Bentivoglio Fiandra, and the brigade’s chief diver, Giuseppe Petrone.
