British-Flagged Yacht Sinks Off Sicily Coast; One Dead, Six Missing
A tragic incident occurred off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning, where a British-flagged sailing yacht sank, resulting in the death of one individual and the disappearance of six others. The Italian fire and rescue service reported the yacht’s sinking, with Britons among those unaccounted for, according to Italian media.
The vessel, a 56-meter (183-foot) yacht, had 22 people onboard, including 10 crew members and 12 passengers, some of whom were American and Canadian nationals. Emergency responders managed to rescue 15 individuals, including a one-year-old child.
Local reports suggest that the yacht encountered severe weather overnight, including heavy storms and water spouts, which likely led to its sinking. A wreck has been located at a depth of 50 meters, and divers are actively searching for the missing persons. The body of the deceased man was found outside the wreck, but his nationality has not yet been confirmed.
Eight of the rescued individuals are currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital, as confirmed by the Italian coastguard. Footage from the scene shows helicopters hovering above the wreckage site, while divers in bright orange gear descended into the water to continue the search.
The western Mediterranean region has been experiencing frequent and intense storms since last week, with low pressure dominating the area. On Sunday night, a series of powerful storms swept along the northern coast of Sicily, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall.
The UK Foreign Office acknowledged the incident and stated that they are in contact with local authorities. The Italian coastguard noted that a nearby boat offered assistance before emergency services arrived.
Local media identified the yacht as the “Bayesian.” The yacht’s last known location was near Porticello, as indicated by its onboard tracker, which ceased transmitting shortly after 4:00 AM local time, just before rescue efforts began. The ship is managed by Camper and Nicholsons International.
