British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, are among six tourists missing after the Bayesian sailboat capsized off the coast of Sicily on Monday. Witnesses reported a powerful tornado struck the area, causing the yacht to overturn and sink rapidly. The sudden nature of the disaster has left authorities and families in shock and urgency.
Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 people rescued by the Italian Coast Guard shortly after the incident. Bacares, the sole legal owner of the Bayesian, had registered the yacht in the Isle of Man, UK. Rescue efforts also led to the recovery of the body of a Canadian national, believed to be the yacht's cook, who was among the crew. The identities of the other missing individuals have not yet been disclosed, but they include both British and American nationals.
Mike Lynch, 59, is widely recognized as the founder of the technology company Autonomy. He gained considerable fame and fortune, often called the "British Bill Gates." In 2011, Lynch sold Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $11 billion, leading to a lengthy legal battle with HP over allegations of financial misconduct. Despite the protracted litigation, Lynch was acquitted in June 2023, just months before this tragic incident.
In response to the yacht's sinking, the UK government dispatched a team of four investigators to Sicily. The delegation is tasked with a preliminary assessment of the incident, a standard procedure in such maritime disasters. The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Division spokesperson confirmed that the team's findings would be crucial in understanding the causes of the sinking.
The search for the missing passengers continues, with divers meticulously examining the hull of the sunken yacht, now resting 49 meters below the surface. Italian Coast Guard patrol boats and helicopters actively participate in the rescue operations, receiving additional support from divers and equipment sent from Naples and Rome. The challenging conditions at the wreck site have made the search operations slow and painstaking.
The British Foreign Office has issued a statement confirming that it is providing consular support to the affected British citizens and is maintaining close contact with Italian authorities. According to Salvatore Cocina, the director general of Civil Protection in Sicily, rescue operations are expected to yield significant results between tonight and tomorrow as efforts intensify.
Sicilian authorities are racing against time to locate the missing tourists. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many holding out hope that the missing will be found alive. The incident has also profoundly affected the victims' families and friends in the UK and beyond, as they await news with a mixture of hope and dread.
