Fact Check: "Superyacht Bayesian sank during a violent storm, killing tech magnate Mike Lynch."
What We Know
On August 19, 2023, the superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch. The yacht was reportedly hit by severe weather conditions while it was approximately 0.8 nautical miles from the fishing village of Porticello. At the time of the incident, there were 22 people on board, including 10 passengers and 12 crew members. Of those, 15 managed to escape to a lifeboat, while the bodies of the deceased were recovered in the days following the sinking (BBC, CBS News).
The inquest into the deaths revealed that Mike Lynch's cause of death was determined to be drowning, while the cause of his daughter's death remains under investigation (BBC). The yacht sank rapidly, and the reasons for its quick descent are still being investigated by Italian authorities (BBC, Independent).
Analysis
The claim that the Bayesian sank during a violent storm, leading to the deaths of Mike Lynch and others, is supported by multiple credible sources. The BBC reported on the inquest findings, confirming that Lynch drowned when the yacht sank during severe weather conditions (BBC). Similarly, CBS News corroborated the timeline and circumstances surrounding the sinking, noting that Lynch was celebrating his recent acquittal from fraud charges (CBS News).
The Independent also provided details about the ongoing investigations into the cause of the sinking, emphasizing that the yacht's rapid descent was unexpected for a vessel of its size and quality (Independent).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations with a track record of accurate reporting. The information has been cross-verified across multiple outlets, including PBS and New York Post, which also reported on the incident and the subsequent recovery efforts (PBS, New York Post).
Conclusion
The claim that the Bayesian sank during a violent storm, resulting in the deaths of Mike Lynch and several others, is True. The evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms the circumstances of the sinking, the identities of the deceased, and the ongoing investigations into the incident.
Sources
- Bayesian yacht sinking: Mike Lynch drowned in Sicily wreck but ... - BBC Link
- Bayesian: Diver dies working on tycoon's sunken superyacht - BBC Link
- Superyacht that sank with British tech magnate Mike Lynch on board ... - CBS News Link
- British tycoon Mike Lynch's sunken Bayesian superyacht raised towards ... - New York Post Link
- What caused the Bayesian to sink? Superyacht raised from seabed 10 ... - Independent Link
- Sunken superyacht lifted from waters off Sicily as crews ... - PBS Link
