One Dead, Britons Missing After Yacht Sinks Off Italian Coast
A tragic incident occurred off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning, where a luxury yacht sank, resulting in one confirmed death and six people reported missing. The 56-meter (183-foot) vessel, known as the Bayesian, was carrying 22 people—10 crew members and 12 passengers, including British, American, and Canadian nationals.
Emergency services successfully rescued 15 people, including a one-year-old British girl who was brought to safety and is reportedly in good health after medical checks. The yacht sank after encountering severe weather conditions, including a storm that produced waterspouts—rotating columns of air over the sea.
Witnesses reported that the yacht’s anchor was deployed when the storm struck, causing the mast to break and the vessel to lose balance before sinking. Divers have located the wreckage 50 meters below the surface and are currently searching for the missing individuals. The body of one man has been recovered from outside the wreckage; his nationality has not yet been confirmed.
A nearby Dutch-flagged vessel played a crucial role in the immediate aftermath of the sinking. The vessel’s crew spotted a red flare and subsequently rescued survivors from a drifting life raft. Some survivors were heavily injured, while a local fisherman and other boats also assisted in the rescue efforts.
Footage from the scene showed helicopters and coastguard vessels at the site, with divers in bright orange suits working to locate the missing. The severe storms that have affected the western Mediterranean since last week contributed to the tragic event. Waterspouts, similar to tornadoes but forming over water, brought powerful winds and turbulence, exacerbating the storm’s impact.
The UK Foreign Office is in touch with local authorities, and the yacht is managed by Camper and Nicholsons International, which is prioritizing support for the rescued passengers and crew. The situation remains under active investigation as search and rescue operations continue.
