Officials confirmed that a luxury superyacht off the coast of Sicily was struck by a violent storm on Monday, resulting in the death of one person and the disappearance of six others.
The Italian coast guard stated that the 56-meter-long British-flagged sailboat named “Bayesian” sank with 22 people on board near Palermo, Sicily, shortly before sunrise. Among the missing were a Canadian, two Americans, and four Britons.
One of the missing individuals is British tech magnate Mike Lynch, who was recently acquitted in a major U.S. fraud trial. His wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued and brought to shore along with a one-year-old child. Eight people were hospitalized, including 10 crew members and 12 foreign tourists.
Survivor Charlotte Emsley recounted how she held her baby daughter Sofia above the water until they were both rescued. The passengers and crew hailed from various countries, including the UK, Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain.
A body was found near the wreck, and rescue operations involving multiple agencies were ongoing at the scene. Local reports indicated that a sudden storm had caused significant damage in the area, despite clear skies and calm seas on Monday morning.
The captain of a nearby boat described turning on the engine during the storm to avoid a collision with the sinking yacht. Fishermen and rescue officials recounted their efforts to locate survivors, with limited success due to the severity of the incident.
The yacht, previously known as “Salute,” offered luxurious accommodations and had a sleek interior design by a renowned French designer. Global News is seeking more information about the incident and the missing Canadian passenger from official sources.
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