Four Britons are reportedly among six people missing after a luxury superyacht sailboat sunk off the coast of Sicily on Monday morning as a tornado hit the area. One body has been found after the 56-metre boat, which had 22 people on board, sunk around 5am near Porticello, Palermo , Italian authorities reported. The vessel has been named by the SuperYacht Times as the Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian.
The daily Il Giornale de Sicilia reported the sailboat was flying a British flag and had been moored in the port at Porticello. It had set sail on Sunday evening. The outlet reported that firefighter divers have recovered a body in their search for missing yachtsmen near the vessel’s hull.
The vessel had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, representing British, American and Canadian nationalities, the Italian coast guard said. Fifteen people, including a one-year-old child, were rescued by Italian Coast Guard patrol boats and firefighters after the boat sank when a whirlwind and rough seas hit the area at sunrise. They were taken to shore at Porticello, where eight were in hospital.
One body was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for, said Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service. Seven people were initially reportedly missing, including the ship’s cook, four Britons, two Americans and a Canadian. On board there were mostly British citizens, and also a New Zealander, a Sri Lanken, two Anglo-French and an Irishman, news agency Adnkronos reported.
A helicopter and rescue boats from the coast guard, carabinieri, fire rescue and civil protection service were at the scene searching for the missing and had located the wreck at a depth of 50 metres. Experienced deep-water divers were arriving at the scene to try to enter the hull. Those who hadn't been rescued included one member of the crew and six passengers, the coast guard said.
The Bayesian can accommodate up to 12 guests across six staterooms, the SuperYacht Times said. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been approached for comment. This is a developing story and is being updated.
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