British Tech Tycoon Among Six Missing After Tornado Sinks Luxury Yacht Near Sicily

Search and rescue operations are underway for six individuals, including British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, after a luxury yacht was struck by a tornado and sank off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning. The tragic incident has claimed the life of one person, while 15 others have been rescued, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares.

The yacht, identified as the “Bayesian,” a 56-meter vessel flying under a British flag, was anchored approximately half a mile from the port of Porticello on the Mediterranean island when it was hit by a tornado around 5 a.m. The Italian Coast Guard, which is leading the rescue efforts, reported that the missing include four Britons and two Americans.

According to sources, Lynch, the founder of the software giant Autonomy, was aboard the yacht when the disaster occurred. His wife was among the survivors, while Lynch remains unaccounted for. The couple’s daughter, Sofia, was also rescued after a harrowing struggle to stay afloat in the turbulent waters.

Charlotte, 35, another survivor, recounted the terrifying moment when the yacht was engulfed by the sea. “In two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves,” she told Italian news agency ANSA. “Many were screaming.”

The severe weather that led to the yacht’s sinking was part of a broader storm system that swept across Sicily, bringing torrential rains and strong winds. The European Severe Weather Database reported that a waterspout, a type of tornado, developed over the area early Monday. The storm also caused significant flooding in the region, with some areas receiving over 100mm of rain in less than four hours.

The Italian fire brigade has been actively involved in the rescue operations, with divers reaching the yacht’s hull, now resting 49 meters (160 feet) below sea level. Helicopters have also been deployed to assist in the search for the missing.

The captain of a nearby vessel described the fierce conditions, stating that he had to start his engine to avoid crashing into the Bayesian as the tornado struck. “After the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone,” he told reporters.

Mike Lynch, who has been embroiled in legal battles since selling Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $11 billion in 2011, is among those still missing. Despite recent legal victories, his fate now hangs in the balance as rescuers continue their efforts to locate the missing passengers and crew.