The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released an interim report into the tragic sinking of the Bayesian Yacht off the coast of Sicily on 19 August last year.

Keystone Law’s Aviation & Travel partners James Healy-Pratt and Owen Hanna are representing the bereaved family of Recaldo Thomas, who tragically lost his life together with six others on the Bayesian. Recaldo was a member of the crew, working as the cook on the yacht, which was owned by Mike Lynch’s surviving widow, Angela Bacares, a US/UK national.

The MAIB is a UK-based government organisation that investigates maritime accidents in UK waters, as well as accidents involving UK-registered ships worldwide. The MAIB’s final report will be released after the wreckage has been examined and further analysis carried out.

James Healy-Pratt said:

“The MAIB interim safety report raises important new evidence and analysis. The Thomas family firmly believe that Rick (Recaldo) died doing his job, and that his death was preventable. They have serious concerns about a series of failures evidently involved in the causes of this tragedy – failures in the design, safety certification and seaworthiness of the Bayesian, as well as the management by some of the crew to deal with a forecast mesocyclone storm.

“The family note that the Bayesian was an outlier in design, with a single mast structure, longer than the wingspan of a jumbo jet, that acted like an aerofoil in the storm conditions. They also note that the owner, Angela Bacares, was up on deck when a number of questionable decisions were being carried out by some of the crew. They know that further evidence and analysis is required in areas including downflooding and seamanship, and they await the final MAIB safety report and its inevitable list of safety recommendations. The Thomas family are firmly resolute in their journey for truth, very public justice, and preventing future tragedies.”

A link to the MAIB’s website for more information and a copy of the interim report can be found here.

For further information please contact: