A luxury sailing yacht sank off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning, leaving seven people missing, including four Britons, according to the Italian fire and rescue service. The 56-meter (183-foot) yacht, named Bayesian and flying a British flag, encountered severe weather conditions near Palermo, leading to the tragic incident.
The vessel had 22 people on board, including 10 crew members and 12 passengers from the UK, the US, and Canada. Emergency services successfully rescued 15 individuals, including a one-year-old child, with eight of the survivors currently receiving treatment in local hospitals. Sadly, one person has been confirmed dead, according to Italian media.
Rescue efforts were bolstered by a nearby boat that offered assistance before emergency services arrived. Divers have since identified the wreck of the Bayesian at a depth of 50 meters and are continuing the search for the missing individuals.
The yacht’s last known position was near Porticello, with its onboard tracker transmitting shortly after 4:00 AM local time, just before the distress call was reportedly made. The ship is managed by Camper and Nicholsons International, whose spokesperson confirmed they are addressing the situation but declined to provide further details.
The British Foreign Ministry has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident, which underscores the dangers faced by maritime vessels, even in relatively familiar waters.
Melissa Enoch
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