Tech tycoon among six missing as freak storm sinks luxury yacht in seconds | BBC News

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are among six people missing after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily in a freak storm.

The 56m vessel was carrying 22 people including British, American and Canadian nationals. Fifteen people were rescued, including a one-year-old girl.

The yacht, named Bayesian, capsized and sank at about 5am local time after a sudden storm generated a woterspout - a rotating column of air similar to a tornado on land.

Mr Lynch, known by some as "the British Bill Gates", co-founded software company Autonomy, which was then bought by tech giant Hewlett-Packard for $11bn. He was later charged with fraud over the deal but was acquitted by a jury just two months before the yacht disaster.

Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Mark Lowen and Simon Jack.

#BBCNews

[bossbabies]

God Bless the man who was able to rescue the 15 people 🙏🏽

[thomasmcdaniel]

No amount of money,
No amount of Fame.
When it's our time to go.
We are all dealt with the same.🙏😔

[flybutterfly]

So sad..
The mother to save her angel such a hero!❤

[Michael-ucgr]

A 55 meter sailing yacht is a huge, very stable vessel, designed to survive mid-ocean hurricanes. I've seen waterspouts while sailing but none remotely capable of doing this.

[mstyah]

Why are people mocking their wealth, pointing out that it couldn’t save their lives? We all know that—everyone dies. Whether it was a yacht or an ordinary fishing boat, the outcome could have been the same. It’s a tragic situation, and six people are still missing.

[melaniep]

Tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with the survivors, and yet to be found passengers, along with anyone connected to this devastating accident. May by miracle, we can only hope for all to be saved.

[sudyke]

This is bad journalism.

"The super yacht stood little chance". This is bullshit. The waterspout stood little chance of bringing this boat down. The MUCH smaller sailboat in front of the Bayesian had no problems at all.

Also, we don't know if the breaking of the mast caused the boat to sink. In fact, it's highly unlikely. The lightweight aluminum mast weighs 500kg, while the boat weighs 476t.

We won't know what happened until the investigation report gets published.

[mhz]

Why is this in the news? Do poor people get on BBC for being in a car crash?

[paulsantini]

His co-accusd in a fraud trial also died in a crash a few days ago
Fishy fishy fishy

[Londinium]

Interestingly and by coincidence, his co-defendant in the American trial also died today after being hit by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday.

[mumihp]

Not sure if it was a coincidence but the text partner was killed last Saturday, hit and run. And not the tech billionaire is dead. Both involved in the court case.

[irishguy]

His business partner gets hit and killed by a vehicle and a few days later his yacht sinks???
Does anyone see conspiracy here at all??

[Serai-lz]

3 school children went missing this morning in Malaysian Borneo when the boat they were taking to school capsized in crocodile infested waters. Tell me why these people's lives are worth more.

[herenow]

RIP all of those that lost their lives, or loved ones. I can't understand how the BBC can confidently state the reason for the loss of the yacht before any sort of professional anaysis and investigation. Also isn't it odd that Lynch's co-defendant died a couple of days ago after being hit by a car whilst out running near his Cambridge, UK home. Food for thought. RIP all involved.

[anatolydyatlov]

The annual billionaire sacrifice to the god of the sea Poseidon has been complete

[GarC]

“Grave doubts” that is one cold blooded pun for sure

[mandyellis]

Why was a British guy ‘extradited in handcuffs to the USA to face fraud charges’, whilst an American woman who drove her car into a British cyclist, in Britain, hitting and killing him and who then absconded to the US to avoid facing charges, not forced to face the same indignity???

[witchycrafter]

Have we learned to stop calling things unsinkable yet?

[RafaelSanchezBcn]

Lady Di also died in an "accident".

[joshuawoodard]

Missing unfortunately means unliving. The ocean is unforgiving. You gotta check the weather.