- High-end leisure vessel overturns near Sicily, presumed absence of British billionaire Gates
A boating incident near Sicily has resulted in one fatality and six individuals unaccounted for. The Italian Coast Guard in Porticello, Palermo, confirmed this information to the German Press Agency upon request. As reported by British media outlets, one of the missing individuals is tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch. It's suspected that he owns the luxurious yacht "Bayesian" that sank.
Previously, the Italian news agency ANSA reported that a severe storm with strong winds overturned the boat near Porticello in northern Sicily early in the morning. The vessel was caught in a waterspout - a whirlpool of water and wind over the sea. This unusual weather phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent in Europe in recent years.
The yacht, approximately 50 meters long, had a British flag flying, as confirmed by the Italian Coast Guard. There were 22 individuals on board, comprising 12 passengers and 10 crew members. 15 individuals were rescued and transported to shore by the Coast Guard and firefighters. The six missing individuals are said to be four British nationals, one American, and one Canadian.
Tech mogul Lynch, aged 59, is commonly referred to as the "British Bill Gates" in British tabloids. He is a co-founder of software company Autonomy, which was purchased by US conglomerate Hewlett Packard for £11 billion (equivalent to €12.9 billion) in 2011. Lynch was acquitted in a fraud trial in the US a few weeks prior, regarding the Autonomy deal. It was reported that his wife, Angela Bacares, who was also believed to be on board, was rescued.
German Captain: "It tilted and sank within minutes"
The survivors were transferred onto a ship with a Dutch flag. The German captain provided Italian media with an account of the incident: "Initially, the boat tilted and within a short timeframe, it sank. The entire incident occurred quite rapidly."
Witnesses reported chaotic scenes in the water during the accident. One of the survivors, a British woman named Charlotte, recounted her experience to the newspaper "La Repubblica": "I momentarily lost sight of my one-year-old daughter in the water but managed to keep her afloat above the surface. It was dark. I couldn't keep my eyes open in the water. I cried out for help, but all I could hear were the cries of others."
Search and rescue teams from the Coast Guard and firefighters continued their search for the six missing individuals. Four ships and a Coast Guard helicopter, along with a firefighter diving team, were involved in the search. The wreck of the large sailing yacht lies on the ocean floor at a depth of 49 meters. According to Italian media reports, rescue divers reported spotting bodies in the cabins through the portholes.
The "Bayesian" was constructed in Tuscany in 2008 and underwent maintenance in 2020, according to news website "TGCom24". It boasted an aluminum mast 75 meters high and a sail area of nearly 3000 square meters. Images published online depicted a yacht with a dark blue hull and a light wooden deck.
The search and rescue efforts are being led by the Italian Coast Guard and firefighters, with four ships, a Coast Guard helicopter, and a firefighter diving team participating. (Search and rescue teams)
The Commission has expressed concern over the increasing frequency of waterspouts in European waters and their impact on marine safety. (The Commission)
