Prosecutors give autopsy update on victims of superyacht disaster as potential homicide is being investigated

Italian prosecutors has shared an autopsy update on the six victims of the Bayesian superyacht sinking.

An extensive search and rescue mission had been taking place off the coast of Palermo, Sicily after the yacht capsized and sank during a storm in the region last week.

15 out of the sailboat's 22 passengers were rescued in the immediate aftermath, which one of those saved being a young child, while the body of the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas was later recovered.

In the days following, authorities worked tirelessly to locate the last six Bayesian yacht passengers who were named as British billionaire Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo.

Specialist divers have been scouring the location of the sunken yacht. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Six bodies have since been recovered from the sunken wreckage by divers, with the last one believed to be Hannah Lynch, meaning that all 22 passengers have now been accounted for.

And now, a potential homicide investigation has been launched by Italian prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, who revealed that the authorities are now looking into a possible manslaughter case regarding the sinking.

Prosecutors have also given an update on the autopsies set to take place on the victims, revealing in a press conference that examinations of the bodies 'have not been done yet'.

"There are a whole number of preliminary stages to go through before the autopsies," Raffaele Cammarano said, as per Sky News.

It was also revealed that they are yet to establish a timeline for the investigation, noting that the wreckage is '50 metres down' underwater.

"Everything depends on the availability of the owners and the timeframe of the retrieval of the wreck and of course all that has to be submitted to the port authorities and in parallel of course there will be the inquiry results, and it's only really then that we will be able to authorise the operation," he said.

"I can't say, like some experts who have already spoken on the subject [say] that it will be eight weeks."

Cammarano continued: "But the preliminary phase which we requested was to retrieve the wreck and after that we can proceed with the rest.

Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah were amongst the missing passengers. (PA)

"There are specialised companies after all who can proceed with getting up the fuel tanks, for example, first, so that's a priority for us because it has environmental knock-on effects and then we'll work out a proper timeframe - a plan with a timeframe."

Meanwhile, the Lynch family has released a statement via spokesperson, which reads: "The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

"Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy. They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

"Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief."