One person has died, and six others remain missing after a luxury superyacht carrying 22 people sank off the coast of Sicily, according to Italian authorities. Among those unaccounted for is prominent British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, according to reports from the Financial Times. The Italian coastguard and firefighters rescued 15 people after the 50-meter (164-foot) yacht, named “Bajesian,” capsized around 5am local time (03:00 GMT) on Monday, following rough winds and choppy seas triggered by a waterspout. One body, identified as a man, was recovered from the wreck at a depth of about 50 meters, officials said.
The yacht, which was carrying 12 passengers and 10 crew members, had British, American, and Canadian nationals among the missing. A one-year-old girl and her mother were among the rescued, and eight of the survivors were hospitalized, all in stable condition. Witnesses described seeing the yacht suddenly sink, transforming what had been a joyful vacation into a tragedy. Rescue efforts continue with divers and helicopters searching the area. British authorities are in contact with local officials, offering consular support. Built by Perini Navi in 2008, the yacht had set sail from Porticello the previous evening.
