Italian investigators have confirmed that they have launched a 'manslaughter' probe following the tragic deaths of 7 people following the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily.
On Monday, it was reported that the Bayesian superyacht had sunk after being caught up in a storm.
Now, Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio has told reporters at a press conference on Saturday morning (August 24) that "behaviors that were not perfectly in order" could have resulted in the tragic loss of life.
The 160-foot luxury yacht - named the Bayesian - became caught in a violent storm during the early hours of Monday morning. Carrying 22 people (12 passengers and 10 crew members), the yacht was hit by a sudden and devastating waterspout tornado, causing it to capsize.
The Italian Coast Guard and local authorities launched an immediate rescue operation, managing to save 15 people, per Sky News.
Tragically, seven people have been confirmed to have died.
These are British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his teenage daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda Morvillo, and the boat’s chef Recaldo Thomas.
Cartosio says that, although all lines of inquiry are being considered, investigators will be focusing on "the extent all the people [on board] were warned" of safety procedures, per Sky News.
Local outlet Palermo Today reports that a team will be looking into offenses of "shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable homicide against an unknown person". This has been described as being "similar to manslaughter charges in the UK" by The Telegraph and other news outlets.
Causing a shipwreck is a separate charge under the Italian penal code, with a maximum sentence of 12 years.
Firefighter Bentivoglio Fiandra has also revealed that at the time emergency services were alerted to the catastrophe at 4.38AM on August 19, the luxury yacht had already sunk and was around 50 meters underwater.
Fiandra added that those who dies were "trying to hide in the cabins on the left-hand side" of the vessel, as the yacht had turned on its right side.
Cartosio - who is the public prosecutor of nearby town Termini Imerese - says that nvestigators plan to retrieve the wreckage of the yacht from the seabed. This will further allow them to analyze better and understand the circumstances in which the yacht capsized.
Additionally, a report by the Daily Mail states that investigators will be reviewing the actions of the captain and first officer as well as examining security footage showing the moments before the ship capsized.
It has already been confirmed that James Catfield, who was in charge of the boat, has been questioned while recovering from his injuries.
The 51-year-old from New Zealand was allegedly seen waiting outside an emergency room in the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese and sources described him to be "limp" clearly exhausted from the ordeal.
The Mirror reported that the captain admitted that he and his crew "didn't see it coming" when referring to the harsh weather conditions they faced.
However, the weather forecast had warned of potential strong winds, with storms across the entire southern region of Italy Sunday, the Coast Guard spokesperson said at the time.
Speaking to Sky News, marine investigator James Wilkes said that "witness testimonies" will be crucial going forward.
Our thoughts continue to go out to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this tragedy.
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