TRAGIC billionaire Mike Lynch’s superyacht sank because it was vulnerable to wind, a report claims.

Investigators examining the sinking of the 180ft Bayesian off Sicily last year say it was knocked over by “extreme wind” and could not recover.

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Brit tech tycoon Lynch, 59, and daughter Hannah, 18, were among seven killed in the disaster.

An interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch said the yacht had a “vulnerability” to lighter winds but the owner and crew would not have known.

It added it had “limited verified evidence” as the criminal probe in Italy had restricted its access.

Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents, said: “The findings indicate that the extreme wind experienced by Bayesian was sufficient to knock the yacht over.

“Further, once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70° the situation was irrecoverable.

“The results will be refined as the investigation proceeds, and more information becomes available.”

Five people were injured “either by falling or from things falling on them”, while the deck hand was “thrown into the sea”, a report said.

Two guests used furniture drawers “as an improvised ladder” to escape their cabin.

The skipper instructed guests and crew on an area of the deck to “swim clear of the mast and boom as the vessel was sinking”.

Survivors later made their way onto a life raft released from the Bayesian.

They went on to be rescued on a small boat dispatched by yacht Sir Robert Baden Powell, which was also at anchor nearby.

A search was conducted of the accident site.

All the bodies of those who died were subsequently recovered by the local authorities.

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