Tech Magnate Mike Lynch and Daughter Among 6 People Missing After Yacht Sinks Off Sicily Coast

Rescue crews are hoping for a miracle.

Mike Lynch, a British tech magnate, and his daughter Hannah are said to be two of six passengers who are still missing after their super yacht Bayesian sank during a freak storm off the coast of Sicily early Aug. 19, according to NBC News.

Lynch's yacht had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers on board, and six remain unaccounted for, including Lynch's daughter Hannah, whom the BBC believes to be 18-years-old.

Salvo Cocina of Sicily's civil protection agency told NBC that a tornado over the water—known as a waterspout—struck the area overnight, causing the catastrophe.

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said, adding that a nearby yacht wasn't as badly damaged. Cocina confirmed and that they were able to save 15 survivors from the Bayesian, including Lynch's wife Angela Bacares.

Eight of the 15 rescued were taken ashore and transferred to a local hospitalized, while the seven others were moved to a hotel.

One body believed to belong to the yacht's cook was found near the wreck, but according to Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service, the remaining six individuals are believed to be inside the hull, which is resting at a depth of 50 meters off Porticello, near Palermo.

According to Cocina, the crew and passengers hail from a variety of countries including Great Britain, Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain.

Local fisherman Francesco Cefalu said he saw a flare around 4:30 a.m., but by the time he arrived the super yacht had already sunk, leaving only cushions, wood and other items floating in the water.

"But for the rest, we didn't find anyone," he explained, according to NBC, adding that he alerted the coast guard and stayed on site for over three hours. "I think they are inside, all the missing people."

Per NBC, one survivor, identified as Charlotte Emsley, said she lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia at one point, but was able to get her back and hold the baby over the waves until a lifeboat was inflated and pulled them both to safety. Sofia's father James Emsley also survived.

Lynch—who has been referred to as Britain's Bill Gates—was cleared of fraud and conspiracy charges in June related to Hewlett Packard's $11 billion takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp, according to the Associated Press.

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