Horror CCTV footage shows the moment a terrifying storm in Italy engulfed a superyacht carrying 22 people as a desperate search continues for those missing , who could be relying on air pockets to survive .
The 56-meter luxury yacht, named the Bayesian, capsized and sank on Monday at around 5am after a horrific storm hit the area - with expert divers continuing their desperate search for those onboard. Authorities confirmed yesterday that one man had tragically died following the incident, while six others remain missing.
The vessel, located off the coast of Palermo, Sicily, is believed to be owned by the family of British tycoon Mike Lynch , who is among those yet to be found, along with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Fifteen people, including a one-year-old baby, were saved by nearby ship Sir Robert Baden Powell, which was anchored close by.
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A new CCTV clip taken from a villa only 200m away from the accident has emerged, and shows the £14million vessel slowly disappearing off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, as it is engulfed by the heavy rain. Lights from the yacht can also be seen in the distance before tragedy strikes.
One witness told how he went to check his cameras after hearing the news of the sinking, according to Giornale Di Sicilia. The owner of the villa said: "In just sixty seconds, you can see the ship disappear. Of about twenty cameras installed in the house, only one was not disturbed by the wind and rain. You can clearly see what is happening. There was nothing that could be done for the boat. It disappeared in a very short time."
Specialist drivers are now frantically fighting their way through blockages in the 50m deep wreck in an effort to find the missing six people. Vincenzo Zagarola, a spokesman for the coast guard, said they believe they may still be inside the yacht, as it sank in just a few minutes.
He said: “We think they are still inside the boat, that is our very hard idea. Our search and rescue activity by sea and air has gone on for around 36 hours. Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly. We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat.”
It comes as an expert has claimed passengers could still be alive due to air pockets inside the sunken yacht. Nick Sloane, an engineer who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation, warned that rescuers are entering a "critical" 24-hour period to rescue anyone who may have survived.
"They've got a very small window of time to try and find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued," he explained. "You've got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical."
Speaking to Sky News, he said: "If the yacht is on its side, i might have more air pockets than if it's upright. She's got quite a large keel, and that will deflect and put her on her side, I'm sure."
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