Two of the people who died on the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s yacht, which capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily in August, reportedly died from asphyxiation when they ran out of oxygen in the cabins.
A source close to the investigation told the Guardian that Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, and his wife, Neda, “did not have water in their lungs, trachea, and stomach”.
The source, who described their deaths as “death by confinement”, confirmed the version provided by the firefighters’ divers and the coastguard, who had stated that the passengers trapped in the cabins had probably attempted to consume the oxygen in the air bubble that had formed as the boat sank.
Despite the clear evidence from the initial examinations, the source added that “the results are still provisional, as histological exams on samples taken from the bodies will be needed to ascertain the cause of death”.
The superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Porticello, a fishing village near Palermo, when the area was hit by violent storms. Seven people died, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah.
Fifteen people survived, including Lynch’s wife, whose company owned the Bayesian. It is thought that it was struck by a downburst, a gusty wind associated with storms.
Italian prosecutors have placed three crew members under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, including the captain of the yacht, James Cutfield, 51, from New Zealand. Being investigated in Italy does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow.
According to the local fire rescue service, “the bodies were found in the highest part of the ship, as it was clear people were trying to hide in cabins on the left-hand side”. The ship landed on its right-hand side after it sank, plunging to a depth of about 50 metres.
Officials believe the passengers sought escape routes, reaching the opposite side of the vessel they were in. The space to breathe was quickly shrinking as the water rapidly flooded the rooms and the air bubble was becoming increasingly toxic owing to the rise in carbon dioxide.
The body of Ricardo Thomas, the onboard cook, was found in the water near the vessel. Five of the victims were reportedly found in different rooms from those indicated by survivors.
According to the newspaper La Repubblica, Morgan Stanley International’s chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife, Judy, are also believed to have died from suffocation, with the results of their autopsies reportedly identical to those of the Morvillos.
The Guardian cannot independently verify the information regarding the Bloomers.
The head forensic doctor at the Policlinico hospital in Palermo, who is carrying out autopsies on the bodies of the victims, declined to comment.
Autopsies are expected on the bodies of Lynch and Hannah on Thursday, while in the afternoon investigators will begin a technical assessment on the sunken yacht to verify whether a hatch was open, which could have led to its sinking.
The prosecutor’s office has been examining videos and photographs taken by local people on the night of the storm, as well as surveillance camera footage. In recent weeks the coastguard has visited all homes and public places with surveillance cameras.
Italian officials said it would be difficult to investigate the sinking fully unless the wreck is recovered.