The British technology tycoon currently amongst those missing from a sunken super-yacht off the cost of Sicily told a journalist he was “about to go on a very long holiday” just last month.

Mike Lynch, 59, had spent more than a year under house arrest in the US when he was finally cleared of conducting a massive fraud relating to an 11 billion dollar sale to US company Hewlett Packard (HP).

Upon his acquittal, he told Sunday Times journalist Danny Fortson that he was ready to take a “big deep breath” and relax with his family.

In the interview he said: “It’s bizarre, but now you have a second life. The question is, what do you want to do with it?”

A baby is among those being treated in hospital after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, with her mother revealing how she rescued her.

“For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amid the fury of the waves,” she said. “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning,’ she added.

“It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.”

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British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is among the six people missing after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, The Independent understands.

The 59-year-old is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy Corporation and has been in the headlines after he was cleared of charges in a high-profile fraud case.

Sources have also confirmed that Mr Lynch is the owner of the vessel.

Once dubbed the “British Bill Gates”, Mr Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares were valued at £852m in 2023 by the Sunday Times Rich List.

His disappearance following the superyacht disaster comes just weeks after he was cleared of all charges by a US jury related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

Eight of the 15 people rescued and taken to shore at Porticello were taken to hospital.

One body was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for, said Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service.Rescue crews located the vessel at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) off Porticello and deep-water police divers were trying to access the hull, Mr Cari said.

The operations, which were visible from shore, involved helicopters and rescue boats from the coast guard, fire rescue and civil protection service.

Fisherman Francesco Cefalu’ said he had seen a flare from shore at around 4.30 a.m. and immediately set out to the site but by the time he got there, the Bayesian had already sunk, with only cushions, wood and other items from the superyacht floating in the water.

“But for the rest, we didn’t find anyone,” he said from the port hours later.

He said that he immediately alerted the coast guard and stayed on site for three hours, but didn’t find any survivors. “I think they are inside, all the missing people.”

The mayor of Palermo has said he is praying for the missing as the rescue operation continues.

Roberto Lagalla told the Italian newspaper Giornale di Sicilia: “My prayers at this moment are with those missing in the shipwreck of the sailing boat in Porticello. My closeness goes to the passengers and crew members rescued.

“I also express my heartfelt thanks to the coastguard, the firefighters and the entire rescue machine that was immediately activated and is still carrying out operations.”

British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among six people missing after his British-flagged luxury superyacht sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily, The Independent understands, while his wife, Angela Bacares, is among the 15 people who were rescued.

Sources have also confirmed that he is the owner of the vessel.

A representative for Dr Lynch declined to comment.

The body found after a luxury yacht sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily is believed to be that of the vessel’s chef, according to local media.

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

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is missing after the superyacht Bayesian sunk off the coast of Sicily, a person familiar with the rescue effort has told Reuters.