British businessman among six people missing after boat carrying British tourists sinks off Sicily

British businessman Mike Lynch is one of six people still missing after a luxury yacht believed to be carrying mainly British tourists capsized and sank off Sicily in a “tornado” early on Monday morning.

One person has been found dead since the boat sank, with 15 more rescued, including a mother and one year old baby.

Mr Lynch, who was in June acquitted in the US of a multi-billion pound fraud relating to the sale of his tech company, Autonomy, to US firm Hewlett-Packard, is said to be missing after the 49-metre sailboat capsized at around 5am off the coast of Palermo. His wife, Angela Bacares, is said to be among those rescued. Italian authorities said a body was found near the wreck at a depth of 50m, while another seven people were initially unaccounted for, including four British tourists. Two US tourists and one Canadian are also reportedly still missing.

Locals said they feared the missing people were still trapped inside the hull of the boat.

It has been reported the sailboat, which is believed to have been anchored at port when it capsized, was flying a British flag and had mostly British passengers on board, but also people from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and British-French citizens.

The region was hit by sudden bad weather in the early hours of the morning, with some describing the storm as a “tornado”.

Owners of local restaurant BAIA Santa Nicolicchia speculated in a social media post that the seven missing people may still be trapped inside the boat.  “Unbelievable tragedy tonight,” the post from the restaurant account said on Facebook. “I’m out of words”.

Fire and rescue spokesman Luca Cari said a helicopter and rescue boats from the coast guard and fire rescue service were at the scene searching for the missing.

Local media said a fierce storm, including water spouts, battered the area overnight.

The ANSA news agency said the boat, which it said was named Bayesian, had been moored in the port at Porticello and had set sail on Sunday evening. It is described as a luxury yacht which has six cabins which can house the owner and 11 guests in addition to 10 crew members.

Filippo Tripoli, the mayor of Bagheria in Sicily, said: “This morning, off the coast of Santa Flavia, a foreign boat sank due to bad weather, 15 people recovered and seven missing.

“Already all the police forces and emergency services are operational and our Red Cross volunteers are present.”

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.”