Billionaire tech tycoon Mike Lynch is among six missing tourists after a luxury yacht sank flowing a tornado in Sicily.
Fishermen said they saw a small tornado off the coast at 03.55 on Monday morning and a distress flare was fired from the yacht as a fierce storm erupted.
Italian news website La Reppuclia said four are British and two are American and a body has been found which is believed to be the chef.
Italian local media has reported that 15 people have been rescued from the superyacht, the Bayesian after it capsized off Palermo.
A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said, “We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Sicily, and stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals affected.”
The Italian coastguard said in a statement, “This morning at about 5.00am, following a violent storm, a 56-metre yacht called Bayesian flying the British flag sank near Porticello.”
