Initial autopsy results for four of the seven people who died when a superyacht sank off the coast of Italy last month indicate that they succumbed to “dry drowning,” a condition where victims do not have water in their lungs, tracheas, or stomachs. The yacht, named Bayesian, sank in a storm near the Sicilian port of Porticello on August 19. The term “dry drowning” or “atypical drowning” is not widely accepted in the medical community, but it is sometimes used to describe cases where individuals experience respiratory issues after being submerged in water, even if minimal water is present in the lungs.
Italy Luxury Yacht Victims Died Of ‘Dry Drowning’ | NewsTalk 1230 https://t.co/203Hdb3d76 pic.twitter.com/0UM5diqas2
— NewsTalk1230 (@newstalk1230) September 5, 2024
According to a spokesperson for the lawyer representing the captain of the Bayesian, the cause of death suggests that the victims likely found an air bubble in the cabin where they were discovered and eventually suffocated as the oxygen ran out, replaced by toxic levels of carbon dioxide. These findings emerged from autopsies conducted on American lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda Morvillo, Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Anne Elizabeth Judith Bloomer at the Forensic Medicine Institute of the Palermo Polyclinic hospital.
Further autopsies are scheduled for British entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter later this week. However, the autopsy for the ship’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, is yet to be scheduled due to difficulties in reaching his family in Antigua.
Reports indicate that all seven victims had been scanned for physical injuries last Saturday, which revealed no broken bones or other trauma that could have contributed to their deaths. This supports the theory that they were alive after the initial impact of the storm and sought refuge in an air pocket within the yacht.
The ongoing investigation, led by a prosecutor in Italy, is examining the actions of the ship’s captain, James Cutfield, along with the ship’s machine engineer, Tim Parker Eaton, and sailor Matthew Griffith, who was on duty the night of the incident. All three men are currently outside of Italy and are being investigated for “multiple manslaughter” and causing a shipwreck, though no formal charges have been filed against them at this time.
The 56-meter luxury yacht sank rapidly, taking only 16 minutes to go down after being struck by a severe downburst or tornado. There are also concerns about the environmental impact, as the yacht carried 18,000 liters of fuel, which poses a potential risk of spillage into the surrounding sea. Efforts are underway to salvage the wreck to prevent an environmental disaster and to further aid the investigation. The company owned by Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who owns the yacht, is expected to cover the costs of the salvage operation.
Four victims on Mike Lynch yacht died of suffocation, autopsies suggest https://t.co/2gPuTFuSJ4
— AtlantaMichael (@AtlantaMichael) September 5, 2024
Toxicology results on the victims are pending, which may provide further insight into their deaths. Notably, no alcohol or drug tests were conducted on the crew, according to the prosecutor.
Additionally, it has been reported that Mike Lynch, who was among the victims, had recently been acquitted of fraud charges in a U.S. court alongside his business partner Stephen Chamberlain. These charges were related to the sale of their company, Autonomy, to Hewlett Packard. The yacht tragedy occurred the same day Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car in London.
Key Points:
i. Initial autopsies indicate “dry drowning” as the cause of death for four victims of the yacht sinking.
ii. “Dry drowning” suggests the victims may have suffocated after finding an air pocket in the sinking yacht.
iii. Autopsies and further investigations are ongoing for other victims and crew members.
iv. The yacht sank rapidly after being hit by severe weather, raising concerns over potential fuel leakage.
v. Legal and environmental investigations are underway, with pending toxicology results and salvage operations.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News