A rescue mission is underway off the coast of Sicily following the sinking of the British-flagged superyacht Bayesian early Monday morning. The 56-meter-long (184-ft) luxury vessel, carrying 22 people, was anchored off the port of Porticello when it was struck by a violent pre-dawn storm. Fifteen people managed to escape before the yacht capsized, but six remain missing. Among them are British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.
The body of one person who died in the incident has been recovered, and the vessel’s cook has also been confirmed dead. Specialist divers from the Italian fire brigade have resumed their search for the missing early on Tuesday morning.
According to reports, the six missing people include four British nationals and two Americans. The yacht was carrying a diverse group of passengers, including those from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and British-French citizens. Several individuals onboard were involved in the recent trial of Mike Lynch, who was acquitted of deceit in the United States.
Mike Lynch, 59, is a UK technology entrepreneur who made his fortune selling his software business, Autonomy, to US IT giant Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion (£8.6 billion) in 2011. He was embroiled in a decade-long legal battle following the acquisition, ultimately being acquitted in June of various fraud charges that could have landed him in prison for two decades.
Hannah Lynch, a student who recently passed her A-levels and was accepted to Oxford University to study English, went missing with her father. Lynch’s lawyer, Chris Morvillo, who defended him throughout the US trial, is also missing along with his wife, American jewelry designer Neda Morvillo. Morvillo’s law firm, Clifford Chance, confirmed the news in a statement expressing shock and sadness at the tragic event.
Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International’s bank and insurance firm, Hiscox, is another missing individual. The 70-year-old Briton, who attended Imperial College London and has served on numerous corporate boards, was a key witness for Lynch’s defense during the trial. Media reports suggest that the two men were close friends.
Judy Bloomer, Jonathan’s wife, is also among the missing. She is a former director of property developer Change Real Estate and is known for her support of women’s health charities.
The search for the missing continues as authorities work tirelessly to locate the six individuals and bring closure to their families and friends. The incident has shocked the world and highlights the dangers of extreme weather conditions, even for seemingly sturdy vessels like the Bayesian.
