The captain of a British-flagged superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily, resulting in the deaths of seven passengers, is currently under investigation by local prosecutors, Sky News reports.
The yacht sank in the early hours of last Monday after being struck by a tornado, followed by a five-day search for missing passengers.
Among the deceased were prominent figures including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter, Hannah, 18. The list of victims also includes Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy, American lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda, and the yacht’s on-board chef, Recaldo Thomas.
Captain James Cutfield, 51, originally from New Zealand, managed to escape the disaster alongside 14 crew members. Authorities have confirmed that he is being probed for potential charges of manslaughter and shipwreck.
Initial reports of Captain Cutfield’s investigation emerged in Italian media, including la Repubblica and Il Corriere della Sera. Local prosecutors have indicated that the inquiry aims to examine captain’s actions regarding the tragedy. Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio noted that there might have been “behaviours that were not perfectly in order” leading to the fatalities. Investigators will determine whether proper safety procedures were communicated to all those on board.
Magistrates met with Captain Cutfield this past Sunday for the second time within a week for an over two-hour questioning. Reports suggest that prosecutors may also investigate additional crew members who were on duty at the time of the storm.
So far, Mr. Cutfield and his fellow surviving crew members have not made any public statements regarding the tragedy.
In a related statement, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which manufactures yachts like the Bayesian, refuted claims of design flaws in the vessel, asserting that it was “unsinkable.” He expressed confidence in the construction and design integrity of the Bayesian superyacht, which capsized.
