Chef Who Died in Sicily Yacht Sinking ‘Loved’ His Job and Used Money to Help His Parents, Friends Say

Mar. 15, 2025

Recaldo Thomas.Photo:Recaldo Thomas/Facebook

Recaldo Thomas/Facebook

At the time the yacht sank there were 22 people on board, including 12 passengers and 10 crew.

In the immediate aftermath, 15 people were rescued, according to the coast guard, while a body was retrieved near the vessel andlater identifiedas Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef.

Rescue divers during search operations for the luxury yacht Bayesian which sank off the coast of Porticello, Sicily.Antonio Cascio/Bloomberg via Getty

Antonio Cascio/Bloomberg via Getty

A friend who said she spoke to Thomas “nearly every day” toldThe Independentthat he “was a one-of-a kind special human being.”

“He loved his life, his friends and his job,” she added.

Meanwhile, while speaking with theBBC, a friend of over two decades remembered the chef as somebody young children from Antigua looked up to.

“Personality was very important in his job. The world’s richest people want to hang out with someone social. He was sought after,” said friend Eli Fuller. “The kids would see all these White people working on yachts. For them to see an Antiguan man traveling all over the world — it was important for our community.”

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Meanwhile, Gareth Williams, who had known Thomas for 30 years, said that Thomas lived on the Caribbean island during the yachting off-season and worked in part to help his parents.

“He told me just the other day that he needed to work two more seasons to fix up his late parents' house,” Williams said. “He loved yachting, but he was tired.”

Personnel stand in line as rescue divers arrive with a fifth body from the luxury yacht Bayesian which sank off the coast of Porticello, Sicily.Antonio Cascio/Bloomberg via Getty

Six passengers remained missing after theBayesianwent into the water and PEOPLE previously reported thatfive bodies have since been foundin the wreckage.

Although Italian authorities have not formally identified the bodies that have been recovered, the missing have previously been identified asMike Lynch, a British tech entrepreneur, andhis daughter Hannah, as well as Chairman of Morgan Stanley InternationalJonathan Bloomer, his wife, Judy, and New York City-based lawyerChristopher Morvilloand his wife, Neda.

Search efforts are ongoing, officials say.

source: people.com