A crew member of Mike Lynch's yacht spoke about being thrown in the water as well as efforts to save passengers when a storm submerged the vessel near Sicily last month. The British tech tycoon was also killed, along with six others.

According to Italian news agency Ansa, Matthew Griffiths, the man on duty the night of tragedy, told the investigators that crew members tried to save as many people on the Bayesian as they could.

The Italian authorities have opened an investigation into the possible manslaughter of Griffiths and the ship's engineer Tim Parker Eaton. Investigation does not necessarily imply guilt or that formal charges will be filed.

"I woke the captain up when the wind speed was 20 knots." Griffiths told Ansa that Griffiths gave the order to wake up everyone else.

The ship tilted, and we were thrown in the water. We managed to get up again and try to save those who we could, adding that the incident occurred in the early morning hours of August 19, when the Bayesian was anchored near the Sicilian Port of Porticello.

"We were walking (on the walls of the boat). Cutfield saved Charlotte Golunski's daughter and mother, as well. There were 15 survivors in total.

Cutfield's lawyers claim that he exercised his right not to speak when questioned by the prosecutors on Tuesday. They said he was "tired" and needed more time to prepare a defense case. Parker Eaton is not commenting on the investigation.

Last week, prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano stated that the vessel had most likely been hit by "downburst", which is a strong downward wind.

The sinking of the Bayesian has baffled marine experts. They said that a vessel such as the Bayesian built by Italian luxury yacht builder Perini should have been able to withstand the storm, and in any event, shouldn't have sunk so quickly.

The investigation of the wreckage in Termini Imerese near Palermo will take some time. (Writing and editing by Frances Kerry.)

(source: Reuters)