Salvage crews retrieve Mike Lynch’s superyacht Bayesian off coast of Italy in haunting photos

A salvage crew has finally pulled a luxury yacht from depths of the ocean near Italy almost a year after it claimed the lives of its billionaire owner, his teen daughter and five others. See the pics.

Salvage workers have finally raised a superyacht that sank off Italy during a pre-dawn storm last year, killing UK tech mogul Mike Lynch and six others.

The luxury 56-metre Bayesian was struck by a storm on August 19 when it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo in Sicily.

UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah both died in the tragedy. Picture: AFP

It sank within minutes, killing Mr Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and five others.

The yacht, which was hit by something akin to a mini-tornado, was raised from the seabed – some 50 metres below the surface – on Friday local time, according to an AFP photographer.

Crane ships Hebo Lift raise the superyacht Bayesian that sank off Sicily last year. Picture: AFP

The hull of the superyacht Bayesian can be seen above the water. Picture: Rosalia Bonfardino

The salvage operation was delayed after a diver died. Picture: AFP

TMC Marine, the salvage company overseeing the operation, cut off the yacht’s mast before lifting the vessel using a crane barge.

The Bayesian had an exceptionally tall mast, measuring 72 metres. Investigators from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) – a UK government agency – said last month its profile “produced a degree of effective lift” that increased the boat’s lean in the wind.

Haunting footage of the Bayesian superyacht at the bottom of the ocean was captured in the months after it sank. Picture: Supplied

When the yacht sank there were 22 people on board, including 12 crew and 10 guests.

Lynch, the 59-year-old founder of software firm Autonomy, had invited friends and family onto the boat to celebrate his recent acquittal in a huge US fraud case.

Italian prosecutors have launched investigations into the captain and two others on suspicion of manslaughter and the crime of negligent shipwreck.

The operation to recover the yacht began in May but was temporarily halted after a diver died.

– with AFP

Originally published as Salvage crews retrieve Mike Lynch’s superyacht Bayesian off coast of Italy in haunting photos