Source – foxnews.com
Emergency responders in southern Italy are engaged in a major search and rescue operation following the luxury yacht sinks in Italy early Monday morning. The disaster occurred off the coast of Sicily, triggered by a severe tornado that struck the area. According to the Italian Coast Guard, fifteen people were rescued from the wreckage, and one body was recovered from the yacht. The search continues for six individuals who remain missing.
Among the missing are two Americans and four Britons, including notable figures such as British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer, and prominent lawyer Chris Morvillo. luxury yacht sinks in Italy, named “Bayesian,” was anchored about half a mile from Porticello on Sicily’s northern coast when the storm hit. The violent weather, characterized by a small waterspout and heavy rain, likely caused the vessel to capsize. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with hurricane-like winds and a significant amount of debris scattered around the pier.
Survivors’ Accounts and Rescue Operations
The disaster unfolded with fierce winds tearing apart the yacht’s mast, leading to its rapid sinking. Captain Karsten Bower of a nearby boat recounted the harrowing experience of encountering the storm. Bower and his crew managed to rescue four injured individuals before contacting the Coast Guard, who later rescued the remaining survivors. One of the rescued, a young girl, was airlifted to a children’s hospital in Palermo, and a total of eight people were hospitalized following the incident.
Charlotte, the mother of the young girl, described the struggle to keep her daughter safe amidst the storm’s fury. “In two seconds, I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves. I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy,” she recounted. The mother and daughter were eventually reunited with the father, James. However, the survivors are reportedly in distress, with concerns and fears for the missing.
Recovery Efforts and Investigation
Italy’s fire brigade has deployed helicopters and divers to assist in the ongoing search and recovery efforts. The divers face challenges due to the depth of the wreck, which lies 49 meters (160 feet) underwater. An attempt to access the sunken yacht on Monday was unsuccessful, but efforts will continue. Marco Tilotta, an inspector for Palermo’s diving unit, highlighted the difficulties of working at such depths.
The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is also sending a team of inspectors to Palermo to assess the situation. The luxury yacht sinks in Italy, a British-flagged vessel, had 22 people on board, including passengers from various countries. The missing include Lynch, a 59-year-old British tech investor, and his 18-year-old daughter. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, survived the accident and described the initial alarm as the yacht began to tilt and shatter.
The tragedy has also claimed the life of Ricardo Thomas, the yacht’s chef, who has been identified as the deceased recovered from the wreckage. The luxury yacht sinks in Italy incident remains under investigation, with a focus on understanding the full scope of the disaster and ensuring that all missing individuals are accounted for.
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