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Autopsies reveal causes of dying of two passengers on Mike Lynch yacht

Autopsies have been carried out on two victims who drowned when the super yacht Bayesian sank last month in a freak storm with the loss of seven lives.

Tech billionaire Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, who was due to start at Oxford University later this month were among those who died.

Mr Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, Hannah’s mother, survived along with 14 others after the £30 million vessel sank off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily at Porticello near Palermo on August 19.

The first autopsies were carried out lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, and confirmed that they drowned, sources said on Monday.

There were ‘no signs’ of any other injuries and autopsies on the other victims will continue for the rest of the week alongside the judicial investigation.

The £30 million vessel sank off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily at Porticello near Palermo on August 19

The £30 million vessel sank off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily at Porticello near Palermo on August 19

The first autopsies were carried out lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda (both pictured) and confirmed that they drowned, sources said on Monday

The first autopsies were carried out lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda (both pictured) and confirmed that they drowned, sources said on Monday 

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah both died in the Bayesian tragedy when the superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah both died in the Bayesian tragedy when the superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily

Judy and Jonathan Bloomer died on the Bayesian as it keeled over in the water

Judy and Jonathan Bloomer died on the Bayesian as it keeled over in the water

Recaldo Thomas, chef on the Bayesian, was the first person to be recovered after the yacht sunk on Monday

Recaldo Thomas, chef on the Bayesian, was the first person to be recovered after the yacht sunk on Monday

Who are the nine surviving crew members

Captain James Cutfield, 51, a New Zealander

Sasha Murray, 29, from Ireland

Kyaw Htun Myin, 31 from Myanmar

Matthew Griffith, 22, from France

Leo Eppel, from South Africa

Onboard hostess Leah Randall, 20 from South Africa

Hostess Katja Chicken, 23, from Germany

Tus Koopmans, from the Netherlands 

Eaton Parker, believed to be from the UK 

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All the victims were passengers except for the boat’s cook Recaldo Thomas. Three crew members are under investigation in Italy for suspected multiple negligent manslaughter and causing a shipwreck, including captain James Cutfield.

One of the Bayesian yacht survivors previously said the crew ‘saved who we could’ as the boat sank. 

Matthew Griffiths was one of 22 people on board the Bayesian when it was devastated by a freak waterspout just a few hundred metres away from Porticello port in the early hours of August 19. 

The 22-year-old, who was on watch duty on the night of the tragedy, told investigators that the crew members did everything they could to save those on board the Bayesian, according to comments reported by Italian news agency Ansa. 

‘I woke up the captain when the wind was at 20 knots (23 mph). He gave orders to wake everyone else,’ Ansa quoted Griffiths as saying. 

‘The ship tilted and we were thrown into the water. Then we managed to get back up and tried to rescue those we could,’ he added, describing the events of the fateful night, when the Bayesian had been anchored off the Sicilian port.

‘We were walking on the walls (of the boat). We saved who we could, Cutfield also saved the little girl and her mother,’ he said, referring to passenger Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter. In all there were 15 survivors of the wreck.

A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the ‘Bayesian’ sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, was in charge of the Bayesian when it sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm

Cutfield exercised his right to remain silent when questioned by prosecutors on Tuesday, his lawyers said.

They explained that he was ‘worn out’ and that they needed more time to build a defense case. 

Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said last week that the vessel was most likely hit by a ‘downburst,’ a very strong downward wind.

However, the sinking has puzzled naval marine experts, who said a vessel like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and, in any case, should not have sunk as quickly as it did.

Prosecutors in the town of Termini Imerese, near Palermo, have said their investigation will take time, with the wreck yet to be salvaged from the sea.