Photos from inside the ultra-luxury yacht Bayesian, which sank off Sicily last August, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including British tech mogul Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter, have come to light for the first time.

A few days ago, the procedure to recover the boat from the seabed near Porticello was completed, and it was then taken to the port of Termini Imerese, where it is being examined by the authorities to establish the exact circumstances and causes of the sinking.

The yacht had sunk to a depth of about 50 metres, and the cost of the recovery is estimated at around $30 million, indicating the scale and seriousness of the operation.

The first images of the interior of the ultra-luxury yacht Bayesia, published by the Italian press, reveal the severe damage suffered by the luxury yacht.

The photos show the reception area submerged in mud, with much damage, while the upholstery and furniture have been torn and stained.

Another photo shows the interior of the ship’s engine, while another shot reveals the condition of the bottom of the ship.

How the Bayesian wreck happened

The ship sank on August 19, 2024, near Porticello, Sicily, off Palermo, during a violent storm while Mike Lynch, a British tech mogul, was taking a private cruise to celebrate his recent acquittal from fraud charges in the US.

In addition to him and his daughter, five other people died, while 15 people, including the captain and crew, managed to survive. A few months later, a diver lost his life in a previous attempted recovery. The speed at which the yacht sank caused shock, as it did not provide the time needed to rescue the victims. The Italian authorities are conducting a full criminal investigation into the circumstances of the tragedy.

TMC Maritime said the recovery process had begun in stages, with steel straps and support equipment being placed under the keel of the vessel. The Bayesian is expected to be transferred on Sunday to the port of Termini Imerese, Sicily, where a specially designed metal base has been prepared for additional inspections and surveys. Remarkably, the vessel’s 72-meter (236-foot) mast has not been retrieved, as it was cut off and remained on the seabed.

A preliminary report by British authorities, published last month, said the yacht capsized due to “extreme winds” and failed to regain its stability. The winds exceeded 70 knots (about 130 km/h), causing the yacht to capsize at a 90-degree angle in just 15 seconds.

Mike Lynch, founder of the well-known software company Autonomy, sold the company in 2011 to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion and was acquitted two months before the wreck by a federal court in San Francisco.