A source familiar with the situation said that Italian Navy divers recovered video surveillance gear from the superyacht which sank near Sicily in late October, killing British tech magnate Mike Lynch, as well as six others.

The equipment recovered could explain why the British flagged Bayesian sank during a severe storm near Palermo on August 19, a strange event that baffled naval experts.

The 56 metre (184 foot) yacht capsized within minutes, killing Lynch's daughter (18), four guests, and the cook. 15 people, including Lynch’s wife, were saved by an unscathed vessel.

Divers of high expertise are searching the wreckage for the prosecutors who are investigating the sinking.

The source stated that they recovered various equipment late on Thursday night, including parts of the deck and computer materials, video surveillance systems, disk drives, and other items. The electronic devices are being sent to labs located outside Sicily for testing and possible data recovery.

Daniele Governale said that the divers used a hyperbaric room which allowed them to dive repeatedly for up to forty minutes.

The Coast Guard took underwater pictures with a remotely controlled vehicle. This will help to draw up a salvage plan for the yacht.

Three crew members are being investigated for manslaughter, including the New Zealand captain James Cutfield. Investigation does not necessarily imply guilt or that formal charges will be filed.

The prosecution has said that their investigation would take time and the wreck will have to be lifted from the seabed. The Bayesian lies on its right, at around 50 meters of depth. (Reporting and writing by Wladimir Pantalone, editing by Alvise Armellini and Timothy Heritage).

(source: Reuters)