A Canadian is among several people missing after a luxury superyacht was capsized during a freak storm off the coast of Sicily early Monday. One body was found, six people remain missing and 15 people were rescued, including a one-year-old girl, authorities said. It remains unclear if the Canadian is among those missing, and has not been publicly identified by Canadian officials.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed Monday afternoon that it is aware of reports a Canadian citizen has died, and extended “deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this tragic event.” A luxury superyacht carrying foreign tourists capsized and sank off the Italian island of Sicily in bad weather early Monday. One body was found, six people remain missing and 15 people were rescued, authorities said.
(AP Video / Aug. 19, 2024) Canadian consular officials are in touch with local authorities, and for privacy reasons, “no further information can be disclosed,” a Global Affairs spokesperson said in an email to the Star. The regional Italian coast guard did not respond to the Star’s request for comment on Monday.
The sailboat, chartered by British tech giant Mike Lynch, had overturned sometime before 5 a.m. off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, where it was anchored.
It had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, including British, American and Canadian, the Italian coast guard said. Local media said a sudden fierce storm, including tornadoes over water known as waterspouts, had battered the are.