Six people are missing after a yacht sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily, with one person confirmed dead and 15 rescued. Among the missing are UK tech billionaire Mike Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife. The yacht was carrying 12 passengers and 10 crew members when it sank, with divers facing challenges in accessing the below-deck cabins due to debris blocking their passage. The search, complicated by the yacht’s depth of 50 meters, is expected to take time.
The vacation on the yacht appeared to be a celebration for Lynch following his acquittal in a fraud case, with guests including those who had supported him during the trial. Lynch’s lawyer, Chris Morvillo, and his wife are also among the missing. Survivors from the sinking recounted harrowing experiences, such as a mother holding her 1-year-old baby over the waves until they were rescued. The yacht, known for its massive 75-meter-tall aluminum mast, was constructed by the Italian firm Perini Navi in 2008.
Despite multiple search efforts by divers, only one body, that of crew member Ricardo Tomas, has been recovered so far. The search is challenging due to the vessel being submerged at a depth of 50 meters, restricting the time divers can spend underwater. Survivors of the sinking include Charlotte Golunski, who managed to save her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, as well as the father, James Emslie. The missing persons, including Lynch, his daughter, and Bloomer and his wife, are believed to still be trapped in the hull of the yacht.
Mike Lynch, known as Britain’s king of technology, was cleared of fraud and conspiracy charges in a US federal trial earlier in the year. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, survived the sinking, while one of his US lawyers, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife remain unaccounted for. The search for the missing individuals has been further complicated by the presence of debris obstructing divers’ passage through the yacht’s cabins. The delicate operation is expected to continue in the coming days as efforts are made to locate and rescue those still trapped inside the sunken vessel.
The yacht’s tragic sinking has shocked the maritime community and the families of those missing. The luxurious vessel, featuring a towering mast, was a symbol of wealth and celebration for its passengers before disaster struck. With the search efforts ongoing, hopes remain high for the safe recovery of the missing individuals. Lynch, his family, and the others onboard will be remembered as brave victims of a sudden and tragic event that claimed the lives of crew members and left survivors with harrowing tales of rescue and survival in the stormy waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
