British Tech Boss Among Missing After Luxury Yacht Sinks Off Sicily

A devastating tornado struck a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning, leaving six people missing, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, the founder of software giant Autonomy, CNN reports.

The incident claimed the life of one person out of the 22 onboard.

The 56-meter yacht, named “Bayesian” and flying a British flag, was anchored about a half mile from the port of Porticello when the tornado hit at around 5 a.m. local time.

Fifteen people, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard. One child was airlifted to a children’s hospital in Palermo. Eight people were hospitalized in total, according to the mayor’s office.

The Coast Guard confirmed that one body was recovered from the hull of the sunken yacht. The nationality of the deceased has not yet been disclosed.

Those missing include four British and two Americans.

According to the European Severe Weather Database, a small waterspout, a type of tornado, formed over the area early Monday. The incident followed heavy rainfall and strong storms across Sicily, with over 4 inches of rain recorded in less than four hours in Brolo, east of Palermo. According to the Coast Guard spokesperson, weather forecasts had warned of potential strong winds and storms across southern Italy.

The Italian fire brigade has deployed divers who reached the yacht’s hull at a depth of 160 feet. Helicopters have also been dispatched to aid in the search operation.

The “Bayesian” carried a primarily British crew and passengers, including two Anglo-French nationals, one Irish, and one Sri Lankan. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that two of its citizens were onboard the ship but are not among those missing.

The search and rescue operation continues, according to the report.