The full inquest into the deaths of four British nationals on the sinking of superyacht Bayesian is on hold

The full inquest into the deaths of four British nationals who died when the superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily is on hold while criminal investigations in the UK and Italy continue, a British coroner has said.

Tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, 59, his daughter Hannah, 18, both from Suffolk; Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife Judy, 71, from Kent, were among seven people who died when the 56-metre sailing vessel sank on 19 August 2024 near the fishing village of Porticello, east of Palermo.

The other victims were the ship’s chef, Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, and US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Aboard the vessel were 22 people in total – 12 crew and ten guests. Fifteen survived, including a one-year-old child and Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares.

The yacht remains on the seabed but is due to be recovered and brought ashore by the end of May. It is understood that the retrieval operation is expected to begin on 26 April.

Suffolk senior coroner Nigel Parsley is leading proceedings into the British deaths. He told a pre-inquest review hearing in Ipswich on Tuesday (15 April 2025) that “very little evidence has been seen in this case yet” and confirmed no date would be set for a full inquest until the criminal investigations conclude. He added that the eventual inquest hearing could last between five and ten days, possibly longer if a jury is required, although he was “minded to conduct this inquest without a jury”.

Parsley said he anticipated calling evidence from senior crew members, maritime investigators, weather experts and eyewitnesses. He also granted interested person status to the family of Chef Thomas, giving them participatory rights in the proceedings. He noted that there was “no reason why I wouldn’t grant it” if a similar request were made by the Morvillo family.

James Healy-Pratt, representing Thomas’s family, suggested the Bayesian’s Australian insurer could be given interested person status. He told the hearing: “I would expect coverage in the region of £100m to £200m by way of marine insurance and I would suggest that they would have a sufficient interest to be invited to be interested persons.” Parsley responded that he would not “jump to say in relation to interested person status”, adding: “I don’t have a lot of information at this time.”

Simon Graves, principal investigator at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), said: “It’s unlikely we will be on scene when the vessel is lifted clear of the water, but we will be on scene when it’s recovered to shore.” He added: “We are relatively early in our investigation,” but noted a “significant amount of work” had already taken place, including studies on the yacht’s stability, windage and weather conditions at the time of the sinking.

Graves confirmed the Bayesian was registered in the Isle of Man, making it subject to a British safety investigation independent of criminal inquiries. The MAIB hopes to publish an interim report within four to six weeks, with a final report to follow “in months not weeks” once the vessel is inspected.

Mark Cam, lead investigation officer from the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), told the coroner: “Absolutely, sir,” when asked if the vessel was a primary source of evidence. He said the agency was looking into possible “breaches of maritime legislation” and that Italian authorities were considering charges equivalent to manslaughter. “Taken a number of witness statements… some statements are still needed from crew members,” he said, noting that “virtually all the crew members do not live in the UK”, which has slowed the process.

He added the investigations on the vessel would take “many months” and that the boat would need to be “made safe” once recovered. MAIB investigators will be present when the yacht arrives onshore.

Parsley said the timing of the full inquest would depend on progress in the criminal investigations, with a further pre-inquest review likely to take place in September or October following the MAIB’s interim findings.

Mike Lynch had founded the software company Autonomy in 1996. He was acquitted in June last year of fraud related to the 2011 sale of the company to Hewlett-Packard. The boat trip was said to be a celebration of that acquittal.