One of the world’s largest luxury superyachts, the 56-metre long Basian, sank last month off the coast of the Sicilian port of Porticello.
Seven victims were trapped alive in their cabins when the ship sank.
Autopsies revealed that all four died from “dry drowning.”
New York City lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, and Morgan Stanley Bank International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, all died of “dry drowning,” Italian media La Repubblica reported, citing tests carried out over the past two days.
What is dry drowning?
USA Today quoted Dr. Michael D. Patrick, an associate professor of pediatrics at Ohio State University, as saying that drowning is “a serious injury resulting from immersion in water.”
On the other hand, “dry drowning” doesn’t involve water getting into the lungs, according to the Detroit Medical Center.
In these cases, inhaling water through the nose or mouth can trigger a laryngospasm, which causes the muscles around the vocal cords to contract. This contraction can restrict airflow to the lungs and make it difficult to insert a breathing tube down the throat for rescue, Patrick explained.
He noted that there is a misconception that the symptoms occur several hours after exposure to water, but they more likely occur immediately after exposure.
There is no medically recognized condition called “dry drowning.”
However, terms such as atypical drowning, secondary drowning, and delayed drowning are sometimes used to describe patients whose condition worsens after drowning rescue or who have very little water remaining in their lungs.
In particular, the American Red Cross and other health organizations have advised against using such terms because, although health problems may occur after entering the water, they may not be the same as drowning.
What does the report say?
A spokesman for the lawyer for the captain of the Baysian said none of the four victims had water in their lungs, tracheas or stomachs.
According to local media reports, the cause of death of the first four was likely due to an air bubble discovered in the cabin where the fifth body was found: the victims absorbed all of the oxygen in the bubble before the carbon dioxide became fatal.
Authorities said an autopsy was carried out on Wednesday at the Palermo General Hospital’s Forensic Medicine Institute.
Autopsy results for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are expected on Friday, according to the Associated Press.
An autopsy on the captain, Recardo Tomas, has yet to be scheduled due to difficulties in contacting his family in Antigua.
Last Saturday, the bodies of all seven victims were examined to rule out any physical injuries that may have contributed to their tragic deaths. The results showed that the victims had no fractures or other injuries.
Toxicology reports for the seven victims are expected to be released in the coming days, according to CNN. After all the victims’ bodies have been recovered, prosecutors said at a press conference that none of the crew members were tested for drugs or alcohol.
The first indications that the victims were searching for cavities were made in early August by the prosecutor in charge of the investigation.
Why did Italy open a manslaughter investigation?
The ship’s mechanical engineer, Tim Parker Eaton, the seaman on watch on the night of the accident, Matthew Griffiths, and the ship’s captain, James Cutfield, are all under criminal investigation on suspicion of manslaughter and shipwreck.
Being under investigation does not mean they are guilty, and no formal charges have been filed. The prosecutor in charge of the investigation has given them permission to leave the country.
Mr Cartosio said the tragedy would be even more devastating if an investigation found it was caused by “actions that were not in line with the responsibility of all those involved in the shipping industry”.
The investigation is ongoing, but authorities say this does not mean any criminal charges will be filed.
Cutfield, Eaton and Griffiths were given permission 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 hit by a downburst or tornado in the early hours of August 19th.
The sinking has baffled naval experts, who say a ship like the Baysian, built by Italian luxury yacht maker Perini, should have been able to withstand the storm and should not have sunk so quickly in any case.
The ship needs to be freed for investigation and to ensure that the 18,000 litres of fuel on board does not leak into the sea around the port of Porticello, near Palermo.
Tenders are being solicited for the salvage, and the cost will be covered by the company owned by Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacalez, who owns the yacht.
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