A search and rescue operation is underway off the coast of Sicily after a luxury yacht carrying 22 people was struck by a tornado and sank, leaving six individuals missing, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch.
The incident occurred around 5 am local time on Monday, with the yacht, named "Bayesian", anchored approximately half a mile from the port of Porticello. The vessel, flying under a British flag, was carrying a predominantly British crew and passengers, along with a small number of other nationalities.
A spokesperson for the Italian Coast Guard confirmed that a tornado hit the yacht, resulting in its sinking. The spokesperson also stated that four Britons and two Americans are among the missing.
Lynch, the founder of software giant Autonomy, was confirmed to be a passenger on board. His wife, Angela Bacares, and one child were among the 15 people rescued. Eight individuals were hospitalised, including the child, who was airlifted to a children's hospital in Palermo. The Coast Guard recovered one body from the hull of the yacht, but the nationality of the deceased has not been revealed.
The severe weather conditions that caused the incident included a small waterspout, a type of tornado, which developed over the area on Monday morning, according to the European Severe Weather Database. Heavy rainfall also swept across Sicily on Sunday, with over 4 inches of rain recorded in Brolo, east of Palermo, in less than four hours.
The Italian fire brigade has deployed divers to the site of the sinking, reaching the yacht's hull at a depth of 49 metres. Helicopters are also assisting with the search operation.
A survivor, Charlotte, recounted the harrowing experience to Italian news agency ANSA, describing how she clung to her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, as waves crashed over the yacht. "In two seconds, I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves," Charlotte stated. "I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy. Many were screaming."
The captain of a nearby boat reported encountering fierce gales, forcing him to start his engine to avoid colliding with the Bayesian. He told reporters that after the storm subsided, he noticed the yacht was missing.
The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has sent a team of four inspectors to Palermo to conduct a preliminary assessment of the yacht. The team is expected to arrive in Sicily shortly.
Lynch, the missing British entrepreneur, has faced legal challenges since 2011, when he sold Autonomy to tech giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $11 billion. In June 2024, he was acquitted of fraud charges in San Francisco after a jury trial.
Despite these legal battles, Lynch's achievements in the technology field are noteworthy. He transformed ground-breaking research at Cambridge University into the foundation of Autonomy, which rose to become Britain's largest software company and a member of the FTSE 100 index. Lynch was widely recognised for his work, receiving accolades from academics and scientists and even advising the British government on technology and innovation.
The "Bayesian" is owned by Revtom Limited, a company registered in the Isle of Man. Revtom Limited's latest annual return, filed in April, lists Bacares as its owner.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
