In a chilling twist of fate, a crew member on the ill-fated superyacht Bayesian shared a video on social media, capturing an approaching storm just before tragedy struck.
Matthew Griffiths, aged 22, is now under investigation along with two others following the catastrophic sinking that occurred in August, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including tech billionaire Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18.
The Stormy Night
The video, reportedly uploaded to Griffiths’ now-closed Instagram account on August 19—the very day the £30 million yacht sank—depicts dramatic lightning flashing across the sky, lighting up the yacht’s distinctive 75-meter mast.
The ominous sound of thunder accompanies the visuals, adding to the tension as the storm closes in on the Bayesian, anchored near Porticello, a quaint fishing village close to Palermo.
In a surreal backdrop, ACDC’s “Thunderstruck” plays, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Investigations and Responsibilities
Earlier this week, Italian news program Quarta Repubblica aired the footage, claiming it had been sourced from Griffiths’ social media.
Griffiths, who resides in the south of France with his parents, is being investigated alongside New Zealand skipper James Cutfield, 51, and British chief engineer Tim Parker Eaton, 59, for charges including multiple manslaughter and causing a maritime disaster.
At the time the storm hit, Griffiths was on watch, and he insists that the crew did everything they could to save the passengers on board. Tragically, six passengers and the yacht’s chef lost their lives.
Eyewitness Accounts
Griffiths recounted to investigators that he alerted the captain when wind speeds reached 20 knots (about 23 mph), prompting orders to wake the rest of the crew.
He described the horrifying moment when the yacht tilted, throwing him and others into the water.
“We managed to get back up and tried to rescue those we could,” he explained.
“We were walking along the sides of the yacht, saving who we could.
Cutfield also rescued a little girl and her mother,” referring to passenger Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter.
In total, 15 people were saved from the British-flagged yacht.
Upcoming Coverage of the Tragedy
This Thursday, the harrowing incident will be featured in an ITV documentary set to air at 9 PM, where witnesses and emergency personnel involved in the rescue will share their experiences.
The Bayesian sank within 16 minutes, and prosecutors are investigating whether hatches and portholes were left unsecured despite forecasts of bad weather, which local fishermen had anticipated.
Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which built the Bayesian, previously stated that the sinking was attributed to “human error,” criticizing the crew for failing to secure the yacht, which was touted as “unsinkable.”
The tragic loss of life included Morgan Stanley International president Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judith, as well as New York lawyer Chris Morvillo, his partner Neda, and chef Recaldo Thomas.
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