Mike Lynch, a prominent British tech entrepreneur known as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” has been confirmed among those missing after a luxury yacht, the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily during a sudden tornado.
On Monday morning, Lynch was one of 22 passengers aboard the 160-foot yacht when disaster struck. As of now, authorities have rescued 15 individuals, but sadly, one person has been confirmed deceased. Among those still unaccounted for are two Americans, four Britons, and a Canadian. Notably, Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued, and the yacht is associated with her, being owned by a company where she is the listed sole owner.
Efforts to locate Lynch and the other missing persons are ongoing, involving divers, several boats, and a helicopter in the search area, roughly 12 miles from Palermo.
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The Bayesian, valued at around $18 million, has sunk completely, now resting over 164 feet underwater, according to Italian news sources.
The rescued passengers have been taken to hospitals in Sicily, including a one-year-old child, who was admitted to a children’s hospital in Palermo. The child’s mother recounted a harrowing experience, explaining how she briefly lost sight of her daughter in the chaos. Fortunately, she managed to find and hold onto her amidst the storm, stating, “I held her tightly while the sea was in a tempest. Many people screamed. Luckily, the lifeboat inflated, and we were able to board.”
Who Is Mike Lynch?
Mike Lynch is the founder of Autonomy, a leading British software company pivotal in the data analytics field during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He earned his degrees in natural sciences and a Ph.D. in signal processing from the University of Cambridge.
Founded in 1996, Autonomy rapidly grew, leading to a landmark acquisition by HP in 2011 for $11.7 billion, one of the largest in tech history. However, this acquisition later became contentious, with HP accusing Lynch of financial misrepresentation—allegations he has consistently denied.