Shocking Findings After Superyacht Disaster Off Sicily
In the tragic aftermath of the Bayesian superyacht sinking off the coast of Sicily, autopsies have revealed that four of the seven victims died from “dry drowning” after being trapped alive inside the ship’s cabins.
New York City lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda, and Morgan Stanley Bank International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, were among the victims who lost their lives due to asphyxiation, according to autopsies conducted over the past two days. The findings were reported by the Italian news outlet la Repubblica.
‘Dry drowning’ confirmed: No water in lungs
The autopsy results revealed that no water was found in the lungs, trachea, or stomachs of the four passengers aboard the 185-foot sailboat, indicating that they did not drown in seawater. Instead, they perished due to a lack of oxygen in their cabins after the yacht sank during a storm on August 19.
Pathologists from the Palermo Institute of Forensic Medicine concluded that the victims died from asphyxiation after the oxygen in their cabins was depleted and the air bubble turned toxic due to carbon dioxide accumulation. The cause of death was labeled as “death by confinement” by an Italian publication.
The bodies of the Morvillos, the Bloomers, and yacht owner Mike Lynch were found in a similar cabin room on the left side of the hull. The superyacht had sunk and rested on the ocean floor with a tilt to its right side, suggesting that the victims, likely awake, sought air pockets in the cabins. Unfortunately, these air pockets turned toxic as they breathed out carbon dioxide.
Survivors’ attempts to warn others
Local reports indicate that survivors, including Lynch’s wife and Hannah’s mother, Angela Bacares, tried to warn those below deck but were injured and unable to reach the cabins.
Additional tests will be conducted to confirm that the four victims died by “dry drowning,” la Repubblica reported. Autopsies for Lynch, Hannah, and Thomas are scheduled for Friday, September 6.
Officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the ship’s capsize, although stormy weather is believed to have been a contributing factor.
This tragic event has left a profound impact on the families of the victims and the broader community, raising questions about safety measures and emergency preparedness on luxury yachts.