Body found after luxury yacht ‘carrying British passengers’ sinks off Sicily

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

The yacht sank in a stretch of sea near Palermo (Vigili del Fuoco via AP) (AP)

A body has been found after a luxury yacht believed to be carrying British passengers sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily, authorities have said.

Fifteen people were rescued from the 55m (180ft) vessel but another seven are still missing, according to the area’s mayor.

A baby, along with its mother, was reportedly among those rescued and taken to hospital, according to Italian news outlet Corriere.

Four British passengers, two Americans and a Canadian are said to be missing, Italian news agency Ansa reported. It is not known what country the person who died is from.

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

The superyacht, named Bayesian, capsized at around 5am off Palermo and was flying a British flag, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic.

The body was found near the wreck at a depth of 50m (164ft), the fire and rescue services said.

The daily Il Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported that the yacht had mostly British passengers on board, but also people from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and British-French citizens.

Speaking earlier, 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.”

Karsten Borner, captain of a nearby boat, told journalists “a little baby and the wife of the owner” of the Bayesian were among the survivors, while those missing included the owner and a child, news agency Reuters reported.

He said his crew took on board some survivors who were on a life raft, including three who were seriously injured.

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.”

Bayesian completed a number of sailings in recent days, calling at various ports in Sicily, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.

The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites.

She was built in 2008 by Italian company Perini Navi.

Her registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd.

There is little publicly-available online information about the company, which appears to be based on the Isle of Man.