According to multiple media reports, Jonathan Bloomer, Chairman of Morgan Stanley International, is currently missing due to the sinking of his yacht. Among the missing persons is Mike Lynch, also known as "British Bill Gates".
Caixin News Agency previously mentioned that on Monday morning Italian time, the luxury yacht "Bayesian" docked on the coast of Sicily sank. At the time of the incident, there were 12 passengers and 10 crew members on board. 15 people were rescued immediately, 1 person has been confirmed dead, and 6 people are missing.
As of press time, the six missing individuals are Blumer and his wife Judy Bloomer, Lynch and his daughter Hannah Lynch, Chris Morvillo, a partner at Clifford Chance in London, and his wife Neda Morvillo.
Italian media reported that the deceased was a chef on a luxury yacht. The Italian authorities have stated that they will continue to search for the wreckage of the yacht. Previously, a spokesperson for the Sicilian Civil Defense Agency stated that based on the conditions on site, it is currently inferred that the bodies of those individuals are still in the sunken ship.
Professional divers from Palermo's fire and rescue services told local media that the search operation resumed on Tuesday morning. But firefighters said that the yacht is located at a depth of 48 meters (157.5 feet) below the sea surface, so it is "very difficult" to enter the yacht.
Emergency rescue personnel are searching for the scene of the missing ship
According to Italian media, prosecutors in Sicily have launched an investigation into the sinking of the yacht and have had in-depth conversations with a captain on board. They believe that the most likely explanation is that the mast of the Bayes was broken during the exceptionally bad weather that day.
It is reported that the Bayes is about 56 meters long and is one of the largest sailing yachts in the world. It is registered in the UK and may have been severely damaged by a sea tornado near Palermo at the time of the incident. The UK Maritime Accident Investigation Agency has also dispatched a team of inspectors to the area.
According to media reports, at the time of the incident, passengers were celebrating Lynch's recent acquittal in San Francisco on the yacht. Lynch once founded Autonomy, also known as the "British version of Bill Gates". In 2011, this software company was sold to HP, and Lynch was charged with fraud in the United States for this transaction. However, he was acquitted in June this year.
As a friend of Lynch, Blumer has been serving as a defense witness in the long-term legal battle against HP and is a member of Lynch's legal team. The missing Chris Mowello mentioned earlier, and the surviving Ayla Ronald, who is Lynch's co defense lawyer, both come from the law firm of Gao Wei Shen.
Blumer has been working in the financial industry for 50 years. Since 2018, he has served as the Chairman of Morgan Stanley International and was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Hiscox Ltd., a British insurance company, last year.
Both Damo and Hiscox have stated in their respective statements that they are shocked and saddened by this news and are waiting for further developments.