A British mother aboard a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily described the harrowing moment she held her baby girl above the waves to prevent her from drowning. The mother, identified as Charlotte Golunski, along with her partner and their one-year-old daughter, were among the 15 individuals rescued from the yacht Bayesian early Monday morning.
Tragically, six people, including prominent British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, are still unaccounted for, and one man has been found deceased near the wreckage. The 56-meter vessel, carrying 10 crew members and 12 passengers, sank approximately half a mile off the Palermo coast after being struck by a severe storm that generated waterspouts over the sea.
In her account, Charlotte told a local newspaper that her family’s survival hinged on being on deck when the yacht capsized. She recounted being jolted awake by “thunder, lightning, and waves that made our boat dance,” which prompted feelings akin to “the end of the world.”
“For two seconds, I lost my daughter in the sea and then quickly grabbed her amidst the chaos,” Charlotte shared. She explained that she used all her strength to keep her baby afloat, holding her arms above the water to fend off drowning.
“The water was dark, and I couldn’t open my eyes. I screamed for help, but all I could hear were the cries of others,” she added. Fortunately, a lifeboat was deployed, and 11 individuals managed to climb aboard. Remarkably, all three members of Charlotte’s family were unharmed and later taken to the hospital for evaluations.
Karsten Borner, the captain of a nearby vessel, reported that his crew rescued several survivors from a life raft, including three who sustained serious injuries. He described how quickly the yacht tipped over and sunk, stating, “It happened in just a few minutes.”
Eyewitness accounts include a local fisherman who spotted debris floating in the water, and another fisherman, who, staying in the harbor due to lightning, witnessed the yacht vanish before his eyes. Describing the scene, he said, “The boat was still floating, then all of a sudden it disappeared. I saw it sinking with my own eyes.”
The incident has raised concerns about maritime safety amidst changing weather conditions in the region.
