Italy luxury yacht victims died of ‘dry drowning’: What is it?

One of the world’s largest luxurious sailing superyachts, the 56-metre Bayesian, sank off the coast of the Sicilian port of Porticello last month.

Seven victims were trapped alive inside the ship’s cabin as the vessel went down.

According to the autopsies, four of them were killed because of “dry drowning.”

New York City lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife, Neda, along with Morgan Stanley Bank International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy, all died of “dry drowning,” according to Italian outlet La Repubblica which cited tests conducted over the past two days.

What is dry drowning?

Drowning is a “significant injury from being immersed in water,” according to USA Today, which quoted Dr Michael D Patrick, an associated professor of paediatrics at Ohio State University.

On the other hand, in “dry drowning,” water never really enters the lungs, as per Detroit Medical Centre.

In such cases, a laryngospasm occurs when water is inhaled through the nose or mouth, causing the muscles around the vocal cords to contract. This contraction restricts airflow to the lungs and can even make it difficult to fit a breathing tube in the throat for rescue, Patrick explained.

He noted that there is a misconception that the condition occurs hours after water exposure, but it is more likely that it would occur immediately after exposure to water.

There is no medically accepted “dry drowning” condition.

However, terms like atypical drowning, secondary drowning or delayed drowning are sometimes used to describe patients whose condition worsened after a drowning rescue or who had very little water in the lungs.

Notably, the American Red Cross and other health bodies have recommended against using such terms as people may experience health impacts after being in water but may not be the same as drowning.

What does the report say?

A spokesperson for the lawyer of the captain of the Bayesian said that the four victims had no water in their lungs, tracheas or stomachs.

According to the local media reports, the cause of death for the first four victims points to the discovery of an air bubble in the cabin where the bodies of five victims were located. The victims absorbed all the oxygen in the air pocket before it became fatal due to carbon dioxide.

Officials say the autopsies were performed on Wednesday at the Palermo Polyclinic Hospital’s Forensic Medicine Institute.

On Friday, autopsy results are anticipated for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, according to The Associated Press.

The autopsy of Recaldo Thomas, the ship’s chef, has not yet been scheduled because it is difficult to get in touch with his family in Antigua.

Last Saturday, all seven victims’ bodies were examined to rule out any physical injuries that might have played a role in their tragic end. The results showed that no victims had broken bones or other injuries.

In the upcoming days, toxicology reports for the seven victims are anticipated, according to CNN. Following the recovery of all the victims’ bodies, the prosecutor stated in a press conference that none of the crew members had undergone drug or alcohol testing.

Initial suggestions that the victims had been looking for an air pocket were made earlier in August by the prosecutor handling the investigation.

Why has Italy launched a manslaughter probe?

The ship’s machine engineer, Tim Parker Eaton, sailor Matthew Griffith, who was on watch the night of the disaster, and captain James Cutfield are all being investigated criminally for potential manslaughter and shipwreck.

Being investigated does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow. They were allowed to leave the country by the prosecutor in charge of the investigation.

The disaster would be even more painful if the investigation showed it was caused “by behaviours that were not aligned to the responsibilities that everyone needs to take in shipping,” Cartosio said.

Though the investigation continues, authorities say this doesn’t mean they will be charged with any crime.

Cutfield, Eaton and Griffith were allowed to leave the country by the prosecutor in charge of the investigation.

How did the yacht sink?

The 56-metre yacht sank within 16 minutes of being struck by a downburst or tornado on the early morning of August 19.

The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and in any case should not have sunk as quickly as it did.

The ship will have to be raised for the investigation and to ensure that the 18,000 litres of fuel onboard do not leak into the sea around the port of Porticello near Palermo.

Bids have been sent out for the salvage, which will be paid for by the company of Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, which owns the yacht.

With inputs from agencies