Devastated survivors of Sicily superyacht disaster are ‘constantly asking about the missing people’ but realise ‘there is little hope of finding their friends alive’, doctor reveals

The heartbroken survivors of the superyacht disaster in Sicily are ‘constantly asking about the missing people’ as six still remain unfound. 

Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when a ‘whirlwind’ hit the area just before 5am this morning. 

The boat rapidly disappeared beneath the waves, claiming the life of one while six people – including British and American tourists – remain missing. 

Doctor Domenico Cipolla, Director of Paediatric Admission and Medicine and Surgery at ‘Di Cristina’ hospital in Palermo, said the remaining survivors are ‘constantly’ checking for news that their missing friends are okay.      

‘The survivors are very tired and are constantly asking about the missing people. To my knowledge, there is only one body that has been found, the others are still missing,’ he said. 

Doctor Domenico Cipolla said the remaining survivors are ‘constantly’ checking for news that their missing friends are okay 

Luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when a ‘whirlwind’ hit the area just before 5am this morning 

A handout photo made available on 19 August 2024 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the ‘Bayesian’ sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Mike Lynch and his wife Angela were on the boat. Angela is recovering while Mike is still missing 

Survivor of the Sicily yacht sinking Charlotte Golunski, who fought to save her baby in the storm

‘We have given the survivors this information, but they are talking and crying all the time because they have realised that there is little hope of finding their friends alive. 

‘By the way, I know that there were some young people on board, some very young people. 

‘They are very tired and they continually thank us for the care and attention we are giving them and the little girl. They are very tired but they are very sweet people.’ 

Fifteen of the 22 people onboard the sailboat were rescued by a Dutch ship nearby. It is feared the six still missing were asleep in their cabins when the yacht went down. 

The superyacht was lit up and illuminating the night sky when a water spout suddenly occured in close proximity to the boat. 

Just before 5am in the morning, the yacht became caught up in the spout and then suddenly disappeared, according to witnesses.

Lynch had reportedly invited his family and friends on the sailboat to celebrate charges of fraud and conspiracy for allegedly scheming to inflate a company’s value before it was sold being dropped. 

He had gathered guests from legal firm Clifford Chance, and his own company Invoke Capital after being cleared in June.