British Tech Tycoon Mike Lynch Missing After Yacht Sinks in Sudden Storm Off Sicily

Porticello, Sicily — British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, 59, is among six people missing after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a sudden and severe storm on Monday. The 56-meter yacht, known as the Bayesian and flying a British flag, was anchored near Porticello, Palermo, when it was struck by unexpected violent winds and rain in the early hours of the morning.

Lynch’s Family and Rescue Operations

Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 people rescued and has been hospitalized with minor injuries in Termini Imerese. However, both Lynch and their daughter, Hannah, remain unaccounted for. The head of Sicily’s Civil Protection Agency, Salvo Cocina, confirmed the missing persons to AFP.

Survivor Accounts and Search Efforts

Charlotte Golunski, a British survivor aboard the yacht with her one-year-old daughter Sophia, described the terrifying ordeal to ANSA news agency. She recounted how the yacht was struck by a powerful gust of wind, causing it to sink almost immediately. Golunski managed to save her child by holding her tightly through the chaos and eventually made it to a life raft.

Divers involved in the search have discovered the first body and reported that one of the missing individuals is trapped inside the sunken vessel. Local fishermen, including Fabio Cefalu, responded to a distress flare and found only debris from the yacht floating in the water.

Storm and Yacht Details

The yacht was reportedly hit by a waterspout, a type of mini-tornado that forms over water during severe thunderstorms. Waterspouts resemble tornadoes over water and are known for their destructive power. Another yacht captain, Karsten Borner, described the storm as a “very strong hurricane gust” and recalled the moment the yacht disappeared.

Rescue and Investigation

The sea calmed hours after the storm, allowing rescue teams to bring a body ashore. Among the survivors are individuals with dual French and British citizenship, as well as nationals from Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Camper & Nicholsons, the management company for the Bayesian, has stated that they are “assisting with the ongoing search” for those still missing. Italian authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the yacht’s sinking.