What was once a symbol of luxury and success has become the center of a heartbreaking investigation and a massive recovery effort.

The Bayesian, a £30 million superyacht, is now emerging from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Sicily — nearly a year after it sank in a devastating superstorm that claimed seven lives, including tech billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah.

As of Saturday, the wreck was being carefully lifted from 160 feet below the surface in a delicate operation that has captivated both investigators and the grieving families left behind.

Slowly Rising from the Deep

Bit by bit, the once-glossy blue hull of the 184ft vessel came into view as a massive marine crane continued the painstaking lift.

The yacht’s bow showed little visible damage, unlike the stern where twisted guardrails hinted at the chaos of the storm that sent it to the bottom.

The most recent piece to reappear from the wreckage was the 237ft mast, or at least what was left of it.

It had been removed earlier in the week to ease the salvage, and it’s expected to be lifted using balloons in the coming days.

According to Captain Michele Maltese, director of Sicily’s western coastguard, the operation is on track to finish by 2pm Saturday.

The team is also taking serious precautions — including using thermal imaging cameras and drones — to monitor for any fuel leaks, as the sunken yacht still holds about 18,000 litres in its tanks.

Setbacks, Delays, and the Death of a Diver

The recovery has faced more than its share of challenges.

What was supposed to be a mid-May lift was delayed by several tragic and logistical hurdles.

One of the most devastating came when a Dutch diver helping with the mast removal lost his life in an accident that is now under investigation.

Bad weather and issues securing cables beneath the vessel added more delays.

But once the mast was removed, the yacht shifted slightly, allowing engineers to finally thread eight heavy-duty cables beneath her hull — a crucial step that made the lift possible.

First Glimpses of the Yacht and the Investigation That Follows

By 8am Saturday, large parts of the Bayesian were already above water, floating just off the fishing village of Porticello, Sicily.

Watching closely from a coastguard boat was local prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano, who is overseeing the ongoing investigation into how the yacht could have gone down so quickly — in just 16 minutes — despite its size and advanced features.

Authorities have been clear that an investigation doesn’t automatically mean charges will follow, but all angles are being explored, especially after three crew members, including New Zealand captain James Cutfield, were among the survivors.

Remembering the Victims

The tragic sinking claimed seven lives, including several high-profile individuals. Among them:

Mike Lynch, the Autonomy software mogul recently cleared of fraud charges related to its £8.6 billion sale to Hewlett-Packard
His daughter Hannah, who had earned a spot to study English Literature at Oxford
Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, a well-known British couple from Kent
Chris and Neda Morvillo, a US lawyer and his wife
Recaldo Thomas, the vessel’s chef from Canada and Antigua

In a poignant twist, Mr. Bloomer’s will had left his £6.6 million estate to his wife, which would then pass to their children.

The tragedy has left their family in what they described as “unimaginable grief.”

The Operation Nears Its Final Stage

With favorable weather speeding up progress, the estimated £20 million recovery mission reached a turning point by Friday, as the top of the yacht’s accommodation area — where passengers once lounged — broke the surface for the first time.

According to TMC Marine, the firm overseeing the lift, the plan is to keep the yacht half-submerged until Saturday’s final lift, when it will be carefully moved to a custom-built cradle at the nearby Termini Imerese dock.

Despite all the setbacks and sorrow, the operation is being carried out with precision — and a solemn understanding of the tragedy it represents.