A tragic shipwreck off the coast of Sicily has left six people missing, including British billionaire Mike Lynch, known for his prominent career in the tech sector.
The luxurious 56-meter yacht 'Bayesian' sank after being hit by a violent storm in the early hours of Monday while it was anchored near Porticello, a town close to Palermo.
Lynch, who was recently acquitted of fraud charges in a federal trial in the United States, was celebrating his victory along with family and friends aboard the 'Bayesian'.
Among the missing are also his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch, and Christopher Morvillo, one of the lawyers who defended him during the trial, accompanied by his wife Neda. Additionally, Jonathan Bloomer, president of Morgan Stanley International and a witness in Lynch's defense, and his wife are also among the unlocated.
The yacht, registered under the British flag, sank quickly after being struck violently by a waterspout. A recording from security cameras showed how the 75-meter mast of the 'Bayesian' disappeared in less than a minute, highlighting the ferocity of the storm.
So far, 15 of the 22 people on board have been rescued, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who managed to survive the shipwreck, AP reported.
Among the survivors, the story of Charlotte Golunski stands out, as she kept her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, afloat until they were both rescued by a nearby sailboat. The ship's chef, originally from Antigua, was the only confirmed fatality so far.
Search and rescue operations have faced significant challenges due to the depth of the wreck, located 50 meters underwater.
Diving teams, which can only work in 12-minute shifts, have had difficulties accessing the cabins where it is presumed the missing individuals became trapped. Access to these areas has been blocked by furniture and debris that shifted during the storm, further complicating the mission.
The British ambassador to Italy, Edward Llewellyn, visited the area and expressed his dismay over the tragedy, while the United Kingdom has sent a team of investigators to collaborate in the investigation of the shipwreck.
Local authorities have indicated that, although no evidence of fuel leaks has been found, the recovery of the yacht and the search for the missing persons are progressing slowly due to adverse conditions.
The tragedy of the 'Bayesian' has resonated throughout Europe, where Lynch and his companions were influential figures. The outing that was meant to be a celebration of the magnate's acquittal has turned into a painful episode that has shocked the families and friends of the missing, who are now facing the agonizing wait for news from the depths of the sea.
Last weekend in Miami, a waterspout surprised residents in the Downtown area as it was spotted and recorded from several apartments.
Images captured from a building in the heart of the city showed the dangerous approach of this weather formation to a yacht sailing through the bay.
The video, shared by the site Only in Dade, captured the exact moment when the waterspout seemed to head directly toward the vessel. As it got closer, it appeared that the natural phenomenon would swallow the yacht.
However, in a turn of events, the waterspout changed direction at the last moment, fortunately avoiding a disaster for the occupants of the yacht.
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