Divers have '10 minutes' to search superyacht Bayesian

Cave-diving experts are among the rescuers still hoping to find survivors trapped underwater on the superyacht Bayesian, which was sunk by a tornado off Sicily.

- BARNEY DAVIS

It is thought that the only hope of survival for the six passengers who are still unaccounted for – tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter; Morgan Stanley executive Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda – is that they are in an air pocket on the doomed £30m vessel.

Among those assisting with the search are two cave divers who are attempting to navigate the dark, tight corridors of the “fully intact” yacht, which is now lying at a depth of 49 metres.

“They can stay under water for a maximum of 12 minutes, two of which are needed to go up and down,” emergency responder Luca Cari told Italian daily newspaper Giornale Di Sicilia. “So the real time to be able to carry out the search is 10 minutes per dive.”

The rescue divers have been able to enter the lounge of the luxury vessel via a ladder, but were still trying to access the rest of the yacht yesterday evening.

Mr Cari explained how the divers had identified a glass window on the Bayesian through which they believe they could gain better access, though it will first need to be removed. The window is 3cm thick, making removal difficult.

A local blacksmith made jacks that were used to break through the glass, Giornale Di Sicilia reported, with the firefighter divers then able to reach the common areas of the vessel through the gap. However, it added that they are yet to make it to the cabins, which is set to take a while as entrances may be blocked.