Captain Who Saw Yacht Sink in Sicily and Helped Rescue Survivors Calls Incident a 'Big Disaster'

Mar. 15, 2025

Karsten Borner.

A boat captain in Sicily recalls saving several survivors just moments after afatal yacht incidentin Italy left at least one person dead and six people missing.

The Bayesian vessel, a 56-meter (183-ft) superyacht carrying 22 people, was anchored when a tornado formed over the water, known as a waterspout, striking the superyacht before it lost its balance and sank, per Italian news agencyANSA.

“It all happened in really little time,” he continued.

“The storm was over. We noticed that the ship behind us was gone,” Borner told the BBC in a video interview Monday. “And then we saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position and we found this life raft drifting [with] 15 people inside."

Italian Coast Guard ship at site of sunken vessel on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili dei del Fuoco via Getty Images

Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili dei del Fuoco via Getty Images

According to Borner, four people were hurt, including three who sustained severe injuries.

“It was a big disaster,” he concluded.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ambulance parked near harbor where search continues after yacht capsized on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.Vincenzo Pepe/Getty

Vincenzo Pepe/Getty

Golunski told the Italian newspaperla Repubblicashe briefly lost Sophie due to the turbulent sea but later found her.

“I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning,” the mother told the newspaper.

She added, “It was all dark. In the water, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.”

At the time the yacht sank, the Coast Guard said 12 passengers were on board as well as 10 crew members, per theAssociated Press.

One person was found dead near the yacht and has since been identified as a cook from the boat, according to local outletPalermo Todayand theBBC.

Of the six who are still missing are British tech entrepreneurMike Lynchand his daughter Hannah. His wife, Angela Bacares, was among those rescued, local sources said.

Mike Lynch.Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty

Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty

Just months ago Lynch, the founder of the U.K.-based tech company Autonomy, was acquitted on all charges that alleged he inflated his company’s earnings ahead of an $11 billion deal with Hewlett-Packard, perTechCrunchand theAssociated Press.

In a statement shared with the outlets at the time, the tech giant said he was “looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field.”

PEOPLE has reached out to the Italian Coast Guard for further comment, but they did not immediately respond.

source: people.com