One Dead and Six Missing after Tornado Sinks S/Y BAYESIAN

A British billionaire's yacht sank near Sicily after being hit by a tornado; one is confirmed dead and six are missing. Read more now.

S/Y BAYESIAN, owned by British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, capsized early Monday morning while anchored outside the port of Porticello in Italy. During a “freak storm” that reportedly caused waterspouts, the 184ft/56m sailing yacht’s mast broke from extreme winds. This weather caused the vessel to sink in about 164ft of water just before dawn.

Image Credit: Perini Navi

Watch the One dead, six missing, 15 rescued after luxury British yacht sinks off Sicily | BBC News video on YouTube.

A vessel nearby BAYESIAN at the time of the incident weathered the storm and acted as first responders. This vessel’s captain said he used his ship’s engines to maneuver while on anchor to avoid colliding with S/Y BAYESIAN. He described the winds as “very strong” gusts and noted that his ship was heeling due to rough sea conditions. 

When the storm began to lift, the captain could no longer see S/Y BAYESIAN, but after spotting a flare, launched a boat tender with the vessel’s mate. The men discovered a life raft and 15 survivors, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares and a one-year-old, and brought them back to their ship, several of whom were injured. Once safely onboard, the captain alerted the Coast Guard for assistance. 

One of the surviving passengers described her gallant effort to save her child saying, “I held my baby above my head, arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning.” Reports say eight people were hospitalized, including a child who was airlifted to a children’s hospital in Palermo. 

S/Y BAYESIAN had 22 people on board at the time of the incident, said to consist of 10 crew and 12 guests. The missing passengers are reported to be four Britons and two Americans. Mike Lynch, owner of the sailing yacht, and his 18-year-old daughter are among those missing.

Watch the Four Britons missing after Bayesian yacht sinks off Sicily video on YouTube.

The Italian Coast Guard and fire fighters are on the scene, as are military police and civil protection. The Italian Fire Brigade reported their search and rescue divers had reached the vessel’s hull and would attempt to enter the vessel to search for those missing. Helicopters have also been dispatched to aid in the search. While wind is still being reported in the area, the general weather and sea conditions are not a hinderance to search and rescue efforts. 

Said Tom Kingston, the Italy correspondent for The Times, in a radio interview, “I think the rescuers have conceded that the six people who are still missing may well be entombed in the luxury yacht.”

Watch the Maxi sailing yacht Bayesian sinks near Sicily: one dead and six missing video on YouTube.

For additional information, please read YATCO’s latest follow-up report.

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