ANGLOPRESS--- British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is among six people missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning.
The 56-meter (183-foot) vessel, carrying 22 people—including British, American, and Canadian nationals—was caught in a severe storm that caused waterspouts to form over the sea. Emergency services rescued 15 people, including a one-year-old British girl.
Local media reported that the yacht, named Bayesian, went down after the storm struck overnight. Witnesses told Italian news agency Ansa that the Bayesian’s anchor was down when the storm hit, causing the mast to break and the ship to lose balance before sinking near Palermo, Sicily’s capital.
Mike Lynch, often dubbed "the British Bill Gates," co-founded the software company Autonomy, which was later acquired by Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion (£8.6 billion). BBC Verify found that Bayesian’s ownership is linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who has been confirmed among the rescued.
The wreckage was found 50 meters below the water's surface, and divers are continuing the search for those still missing. The body of one man has been recovered outside the wreckage, though his nationality has not been confirmed.
Among the survivors, a 35-year-old mother named Charlotte recounted holding her one-year-old daughter in the sea amidst the chaos. “For two seconds I lost the little girl in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves,” she said. “Luckily the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us managed to get on board.”
A nearby Dutch-flagged vessel rescued the survivors from the life raft, with three passengers reported to be "heavily injured." Eight of those rescued are receiving treatment in the hospital, according to the Italian coastguard.
The western Mediterranean has been experiencing severe storms since last week. BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor explained that waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water during intense storms, bringing powerful winds and causing a water mist around the rotating column of air.
The UK Foreign Office is aware of the incident and is in contact with local authorities. Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also sending inspectors to investigate the sinking of the UK-registered yacht.
The Bayesian, capable of accommodating up to 12 guests in six suites, is registered under Revtom Ltd., a company legally owned by Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares. A spokesperson for Camper and Nicholsons International, the firm managing the yacht, stated, "Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew.