From loving couples to a mother who used “all [her] strength” to keep her daughter afloat, see the guests and crew who were aboard Mike Lynch’s sunken yacht, including those who lived to tell the tale and those who didn’t.
British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch’s luxury yacht Bayesian was supposed to be a retreat, a time for celebration among friends and family. Instead, it became the site of a heartbreaking tragedy when a violent storm caused the vessel to capsize off the coast of Sicily.
Mike Lynch posing for a photograph on July 8, 2014. | Source: Getty Images
Among those on board were Mike and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. Alongside them were other prominent figures and crew members, whose lives were either tragically cut short or forever altered by the events of that day.
A fishing boat passing a rib with divers aboard during search operations for the luxury yacht Bayesian, off the coast of Porticello, Italy, on August 22, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
Mike Lynch and His Wife and Daughter
Mike Lynch, hailed as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” was confirmed dead by search and rescue authorities after his luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. The yacht, a symbol of his immense success, became a site of further heartbreaking loss.
Mike Lynch spotted leaving the Rolls Building on June 27, 2019, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
His daughter, Hannah Lynch, was also on board the super yacht when it capsized. The 18-year-old was the last of the victims to be recovered from the wreck. For days, rescue teams worked tirelessly to retrieve the bodies of those who perished in the disaster.
Hannah’s body was found submerged in a cabin, surrounded by overturned furniture and floating debris. The discovery brought a tragic end to the search, which had gripped the attention of many, including Hannah’s school friends, who anxiously awaited news of her safety.
The devastating confirmation of her death marked a somber conclusion to the operation. Surviving the disaster was Mike’s wife, Angela Bacares, who also found herself on board the ill-fated yacht.
Angela, who is 57 years old, narrowly escaped the sinking vessel in what she described as a harrowing experience. She recalled how she was abruptly woken that fateful morning by the sharp tilting of the yacht.
Initially, she thought little of the disturbance, but moments later, she found herself showered in broken glass as the boat began to capsize. Angela’s desperate escape saw her fleeing from her cabin, slicing her feet on the shards of glass scattered across the deck.
Angela managed to make it off the yacht just in time as it slipped beneath the waves, leaving behind her husband and daughter. Angela survived Mike and Hannah, alongside their other daughter, Esme.
Jonathan and Judy Bloomer
Jonathan Bloomer, the esteemed chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, were also among the victims of the tragic yacht disaster. The 70-year-old financier and his wife were confirmed dead after divers discovered their bodies, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities to six.
Group Chief Executive of British Insurer Prudential PLC, Jonathan Bloomer, on July 24, 2002, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
The couple had joined Mike on the ill-fated yacht trip to celebrate his recent court victory in June 2024. However, what was meant to be a joyous occasion, filled with celebration and relaxation, turned into an unimaginable tragedy.
The Bloomer family, overwhelmed with grief, released a heartfelt statement in the aftermath of the disaster that read, “We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the emergency services and everyone who helped tirelessly in this rescue operation.”
Christopher and Neda Morvillo
Among the victims of the devastating shipwreck was U.S. lawyer Christopher Morvillo, a father of two who played a significant role in Mike’s U.S. fraud trial. Christopher, a partner at the U.S. branch of Clifford Chance, was aboard the yacht with his wife, Neda Morvillo, when disaster struck.
Tragically, both Christopher and Neda were confirmed dead after their bodies were recovered from the wreckage. The Morvillos were initially reported missing after the yacht sank, prompting a frantic search operation.
Clifford Chance LLP partners Christopher J. Morvillo, Edward C. O’Callaghan, and David B. Raskin posing for a portrait in New York on December 21, 2011. | Source: Getty Images
Police divers struggled to reach the yacht’s hull, which rested 50 meters underwater. The challenging conditions included limited access due to furniture blocking passageways, making the rescue efforts incredibly complex.
Divers were restricted to just 12-minute shifts underwater, adding to the difficulty of the operation. On the third day of the search, divers discovered five bodies inside the yacht, with Christopher and Neda believed to be among them.
People hugging as they watched a search and rescue team operate on the pier of Porticello, Italy, on August 22, 2024, three days after the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian sank. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the strenuous efforts of the rescue teams, only four bodies were initially brought ashore. The recovery operation was a somber affair, as body bags were transported to Porticello in the afternoon, where dozens of emergency service workers awaited their arrival.
Christopher, who had recently expressed his gratitude to the legal team that helped secure Mike’s acquittal, also took a moment to acknowledge his family in a heartfelt LinkedIn post.
Rescue teams operating off Porticello harbor near Palermo, Italy, where they searched for missing persons after the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian sank, on August 22, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
He wrote, “And finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo. None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after.”
Neda and Christopher Morvillo at the Summer Birthday Cocktails For Lawrence Kaplan event on June 21, 2018, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Recaldo Thomas
One of the first victims to be recovered from the sunken yacht was Recaldo Thomas, a well-loved and respected chef. The Canadian-Antiguan national, known for his warmth and kindness, was a fixture in the yachting community, where he had spent decades perfecting his craft and building lasting friendships.
Recaldo’s close friend, Gareth Williams, shared that they had known each other for 30 years, having grown up together in Antigua, where Recaldo resided during the off-season. Gareth described Recaldo as “kind” and “well-loved,” a man who had dedicated much of his life to his work but was looking forward to slowing down.
“He told me just the other day that he needed to work two more seasons to fix up his late parents’ house. He loved yachting, but he was tired,” Gareth recalled. Eli Fuller, another longtime friend, who first met Recaldo 25 years ago, spoke of his influence on the younger generation, noting how Recaldo’s personality was a crucial part of his job.
Recaldo Thomas with a friend | Source: Facebook/Rose Marie
“The world’s richest people want to hang out with someone social. He was sought after,” Eli said. Another friend, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the deep sense of loss felt within the yachting community following Recaldo’s death.
“He was a one-of-a-kind, special human being. Incredibly talented, contagious smile and laugh, an incredible voice with a deep love of the ocean and the moon. I spoke to him nearly every day. He loved his life, his friends, and his job,” she shared.
Charlotte Golunski
Charlotte Golunski, one of the 22 people aboard the Bayesian when it was struck by the waterspout, miraculously survived the disaster. The 35-year-old mother recounted her harrowing experience to Italian outlets, revealing that she used every ounce of her strength to keep her young daughter, Sofia, afloat during the chaos.
Dr. Domenico Cipolla, the head of pediatric care at Di Cristina Children’s Hospital in Palermo, shared details of Charlotte’s terrifying ordeal. According to Dr. Cipolla, Charlotte had been sleeping on deck with her daughter while her partner, James Emsley, was in another part of the yacht
Divers of the Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian Corps. of Firefighters, carrying a body from the Bayesian yacht wreck at Porticello harbor, Italy, on August 23, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
“She felt the oscillations of the ship. In an instant, it was dark, and she found herself in the water in just a few minutes,” Dr. Cipolla revealed of Charlotte’s experience. In the midst of the darkness and confusion, Charlotte desperately tried to hold onto Sofia but lost her grip for a few agonizing seconds. “She then managed to catch her in the water,” Dr. Cipolla explained.
Despite suffering only minor bruises, Charlotte was deeply saddened by the fate of those who did not survive. After being treated at separate hospitals, she and James were reunited and said to have “hugged and comforted each other” but could not hold back their tears for the lives lost in the tragedy.
A woman watching rescue teams at work in Porticello, Italy, on August 21, 2024, two days after the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian sank. | Source: Getty Images
Ayla Ronald
Ayla Ronald, a 36-year-old senior associate at Clifford Chance, was one of the fortunate survivors of the devastating yacht disaster. However, the experience reportedly left her “very shaken.” Ayla was on board with her partner, Matthew Fletcher, when the storm struck, leaving many in its wake of destruction.
A spokesperson for Clifford Chance confirmed the news of Ayla’s survival, stating, “[…] Our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident.”
Ayla’s father, Lin Ronald, shared that his daughter was still reeling from the traumatic event. “I have texted my daughter, and she hasn’t given me any updates about missing personnel or saved personnel. She has only said to me that there are deaths, and she and her partner are alive,” Lin revealed.
Ayla had joined the yacht trip as part of the legal team invited to celebrate Mike’s acquittal in a U.S. fraud case. Among those rescued were two crew members, Leah Randall and Katja Chicken, both from South Africa, along with Captain James Calfield.
“We didn’t see it coming,” James told Italian media. Other survivors included 22-year-old French crew member Matthew Griffith and 29-year-old Irish guest Sasha Murray.
People said to be survivors of the capsized yacht leaving the Coast Guard Headquarters on August 19, 2024, in Porticello, Italy. | Source: Getty Images
The sinking of Mike Lynch’s Bayesian claimed the lives of several prominent individuals, leaving behind a trail of grief and unanswered questions. While survivors like Ayla Ronald and Charlotte Golunski managed to escape with their lives, the tragedy left an indelible mark on all involved.
