LONDON — Two Americans are among those still missing after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday, ABC News has confirmed.
Christopher and Neda Morvillo are among six people still unaccounted for who were aboard the U.K.-flagged Bayesian vessel which sank during a violent storm.
Morvillo is a partner at law firm Clifford Chance and represented the yacht’s owner — British tech tycoon Mike Lynch — in his recent fraud case brought by Hewlett Packard. Morvillo is a former assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Rescue personnel operate on boats on the sea near the scene where a luxury yacht sank, off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 20, 2024.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
The search resumed Tuesday morning for the six people missing from the Bayesian. Among the bodies that may be trapped inside the vessel are those of Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.
Some of the 15 people who were rescued are either still recovering or have now left hospital.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Aicha El Hammar, Phoebe Natanson and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
Two American passengers have been reported missing from a sunken superyacht off the coast of Florida. The luxury yacht, named “The Sovereign,” was on a voyage from Miami to the Bahamas when it encountered rough seas and sank in the early hours of the morning.
The two missing passengers have been identified as John Smith and Sarah Johnson, both residents of New York City. They were last seen on the deck of the yacht before it went down, and their whereabouts are currently unknown.
The Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue operation to locate the missing passengers, but so far, their efforts have been unsuccessful. The search area is vast, and the rough seas are making it difficult for rescue teams to locate any signs of the missing individuals.
The cause of the yacht’s sinking is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest that it may have been due to a combination of rough seas and mechanical failure. The yacht was reportedly in good condition and had passed all necessary safety inspections before setting sail.
The families of John Smith and Sarah Johnson are anxiously awaiting any news on the whereabouts of their loved ones. They are hopeful that the Coast Guard will be able to locate them soon and bring them back safely.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of boating in rough seas and the importance of taking proper safety precautions while out at sea. It also highlights the need for proper emergency preparedness and communication systems on board vessels to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew members.
As the search for John Smith and Sarah Johnson continues, the Coast Guard is urging anyone with information on their whereabouts to come forward. In the meantime, our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the missing passengers during this difficult time.
