“‘My Baby Was Missing at Sea for Two Seconds’ – Survivor of Sicily Yacht Incident”

A British mother has recounted a harrowing experience after her yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, recounting how she fought to keep her baby daughter above water. The mother, identified locally as Charlotte Golunski, along with her partner and their one-year-old child, were among 15 people rescued from the luxury yacht Bayesian early on Monday morning. The yacht, which was carrying 10 crew members and 12 passengers, sank roughly half a mile from Palermo following a severe storm that created dangerous waterspouts.

Charlotte Golunski and her family were on deck when the yacht encountered the storm, described as having thunder, lightning, and violent waves that made the vessel “dance.” As the yacht capsized and sank rapidly, Charlotte found herself separated from her daughter amidst the chaos. For a brief moment, she lost sight of her child in the turbulent sea but managed to reunite with her. She held her baby aloft with all her strength, stretching her arms to keep her daughter from drowning. Charlotte described the scene as dark and terrifying, with her screams for help drowned out by the cries of others around her.

Survivors from the yacht were rescued by a nearby boat, with Karsten Borner, the boat’s captain, reporting that his crew pulled several people from life rafts, including three who were critically injured. The swift sinking of the superyacht, which occurred in just a few minutes, was confirmed by Borner. Charlotte and her family were among those who were unharmed and were taken to a hospital for precautionary checks.

Local witnesses provided further details of the disaster. Giuseppe, a fisherman, observed debris such as mats and T-shirts floating in the sea. Fabio Cefalù, a trawler captain, described seeing a flare in the water before the yacht sank. Cefalù had initially stayed in the harbor due to the storm but later saw remnants of the yacht and its contents in the sea. Another local fisherman described witnessing the yacht sink before his eyes as he went to investigate the scene.

The tragic event underscores the perils of maritime travel in severe weather conditions and the bravery of those involved in the rescue efforts. The search continues for the six missing individuals, including prominent British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and efforts to locate them remain ongoing.