The Italian coastguard has confirmed that the body found in the Bayesian superyacht search operation is that of chef Recaldo Thomas. Mr. Thomas was one of the 22 people on board the superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday. The British-flagged vessel named Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 members of the crew when it got into difficulty around 4:30 am, according to the Italian coastguard. Six people are still missing, and another 15 were rescued in the tragic incident.
**Passengers on Board the Superyacht:**
**Mike Lynch:**
British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, who is missing following the sinking of the yacht, is the owner of the vessel. Raised in Ilford, East London, by Irish parents, the 59-year-old made millions with the software company Autonomy, which he founded in 1996. With an estimated net worth of £852m, according to the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, Mr. Lynch’s success led to roles as a science adviser to former Prime Minister David Cameron and a non-executive director of the BBC. Despite facing a high-profile fraud case related to the sale of Autonomy to HP in 2011, a US jury cleared him of all charges in June.
**Hannah Lynch:**
Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch, was also on board the yacht and is missing. A student who had secured a place to study English at the University of Oxford, Hannah’s former school in Hammersmith, West London, expressed shock at the tragic news of her and her father’s disappearance.
**Angela Bacares:**
Mike Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was on board the yacht and was rescued. She confirmed that her husband and daughter are missing. The 57-year-old recounted the harrowing experience of waking up to the boat “tilting” at 4 am, just half an hour before it sank.
**Jonathan Bloomer:**
Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International, was on board the yacht and is missing. Known to be a good friend of Mike Lynch, Mr. Bloomer appeared as a defense witness for him during his US criminal trial. He is also the chairman of the insurance provider Hiscox, which confirmed his disappearance along with his wife, Judy Bloomer.
**Judy Bloomer:**
Judy Bloomer, the wife of Jonathan Bloomer, was also on board the yacht and is missing. A board member of The Eve Appeal charity, which focuses on gynecological cancers, Mrs. Bloomer was described as a “brilliant champion for women’s health and medical research” by the charity.
**Recaldo Thomas:**
The yacht’s on-board chef, Recaldo Thomas, is the only confirmed fatality in the tragic incident. The Canadian-Antiguan crew member’s body was recovered from the wreckage by the Palermo Port Authority, according to Canadian broadcaster CBC News.
**Chris Morvillo:**
US lawyer Chris Morvillo, missing from the yacht, worked on Mike Lynch’s US fraud trial and is a partner at law firm Clifford Chance’s US branch. In a recent LinkedIn post, he expressed gratitude to his legal team and his family for their support.
**Neda Morvillo:**
Neda Morvillo, the wife of Chris Morvillo, was also on board the yacht and is unaccounted for. The 57-year-old runs a luxury jewelry brand under her maiden name, Neda Nassiri, and her husband’s firm, Clifford Chance, expressed concern for their missing partner.
**Ayla Ronald:**
Ayla Ronald, a senior associate at Clifford Chance, survived the yacht disaster and is being supported by her colleagues and family. Originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, she currently resides in London.
**Charlotte Golunski:**
Charlotte Golunski, a partner at Invoke Capital and a survivor of the sinking, recounted her harrowing experience of keeping her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, safe in the water. She expressed her relief at their survival and condolences to the families of those lost in the tragedy.
**James Emsley:**
James Emsley, partner of Charlotte Golunski and father of their one-year-old daughter, was also rescued from the sinking yacht, according to Sicily’s civil protection agency.
**James Calfield:**
The captain of the yacht, James Calfield, spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica after being rescued. The New Zealand native was taken for treatment at the Termini Imerese emergency unit and shared his shock at the sudden sinking of the vessel.
**Leah Randall:**
Leah Randall, a crew member from South Africa, survived the sinking and was photographed going ashore in Porticello. Her mother expressed relief at her daughter’s survival and extended condolences to those who lost their lives or are still missing.
**Katja Chicken:**
Another South African crew member, Katja Chicken, was rescued from the sinking yacht and brought to safety in Porticello on Monday.
**Leo Eppel:**
The Italian coastguard confirmed that crew member Leo Eppel survived the sinking of the yacht, adding another fortunate survivor to the list of rescued individuals.
The tragic sinking of the Bayesian superyacht has left a devastating impact on the lives of those on board, with families and loved ones awaiting news of those still missing. The recovery and identification process continues as authorities work to piece together the events leading to the vessel’s demise off the coast of Sicily.
