Placeholder Content Image

Captain of superyacht breaks silence as missing passengers identified

<p>The captain of the ill-fated superyacht that capsized off the coast of Sicily after being struck by a tornado has spoken out, as the six missing passengers have been identified. </p> <p>Of the 22 people who were on board, 15 were rescued with one tragically pulled dead from the water, believed to be the vessel’s chef.</p> <p>Among those still missing are billionaire tech tycoon <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/billionaire-tech-tycoon-and-daughter-missing-after-tornado-strikes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Lynch</a>, 59, who organised the special voyage as a celebration, and was accompanied by his wife Angela and their 18-year-old daughter Hannah. </p> <p>Angela was one of the passengers who were rescued, while Mike and Hannah remain missing.</p> <p>Mike Lynch’s long-term friend Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy are also among the missing, as well as Lynch's lawyer Chris Morvillo. </p> <p>Mr Morvillo’s wife, the American jewellery designer, Neda Morvillo, is also missing.</p> <p>The captain of the $27 million Bayesian, James Calfield, 51, is one of the many onboard who are recovering in hospital, as he spoke to local news outlet <em>La Repubblica</em>, saying he had no idea the tornado was heading towards the luxury yacht. </p> <p>“We didn’t see it coming,” he said. </p> <p>The captain of a nearby ship that helped rescue passengers in the aftermath of the incident spoke to <em>Reuters</em> about the moment he noticed the superyacht had vanished.</p> <p>“I don’t absolutely know what they did. I only know that they went flat with a mast on the water and that they sank in two minutes,” he told the agency.</p> <p><em>Image credits: IPA/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Billionaire tech tycoon and daughter missing after tornado strikes

<p>Six people, including a billionaire tech tycoon and his daughter, have been declared missing off the coast of Sicily after a tornado struck the area, causing their luxury super yacht to capsize and sink. </p> <p>Four British are reportedly among six people missing at sea, including billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.</p> <p>At the time of the tragedy, 22 people were onboard and 15 were rescued by coastguard patrol boats and firefighters, including Mr Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares.</p> <p>The coast guard said that divers had been sent to inspect the wreck of the Bayesian, which was lying at a depth of 49 metres.</p> <p>Authorities confirmed that one body, believed to be that of the yacht's chef, has been found during their search of the vessel's hull. </p> <p>Charlotte Golunski, who was on board the vessel, told local news outlet La Repubblica newspaper of how she saved her daughter Sofia as the boat sank.</p> <p>She said, “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning."</p> <p>“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.”</p> <p>Charlotte, her husband James and their daughter Sophia are among those onboard being treated at hospital. </p> <p>The captain of a nearby boat, Karsten Borner, said that when the storm hit he turned the engine on to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian.</p> <p>"We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone," he said, adding that the Bayesian "went flat on the water, and then down."</p> <p>Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, which had lifted the temperature of the Mediterranean sea to record levels, raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: AFP/Alberto Lo Bianco/LaPresse/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

Man purchases home for $1.50 - but there’s a catch!

<p dir="ltr">A man struggling to enter the property market has revealed how he purchased his home for just $1.50 - but there’s a catch. </p> <p dir="ltr">Danny McCubbin, who is originally from the Gold Coast, wanted to upend his life once more and move from busy London. </p> <p dir="ltr">On his mind was a quiet, peaceful area where he could enjoy his life – and the small town in Mussomeli, Mussomeli, took his breath away.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I fell in love with this town,” Danny told news.com.au.</p> <p dir="ltr">Danny took a leap of faith and bought his home in 2019 for just $1.50 (plus a further 3000 euros for notary and inspection fees). </p> <p dir="ltr">However, a condition of the house was that he would have to renovate it within three years of purchase or he’d have to pay a further 5000 euros (AU$7,571) to the government. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pandemic threw a spanner in the works, making Danny’s mission to renovate his home almost impossible.</p> <p dir="ltr">Danny then decided it would be cheaper to purchase another home and renovate that. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I ended up buying myself a house for 8000 euros, which is less than the cost of my car. And I spent 5000 on it and renovated that,” he revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s where I live now. It’s a beautiful place, it’s got a view of the mountains, it’s just perfect for me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Danny offered his best tips to those looking to do the same: spend time in the city where you plan to buy, see as many houses as you can, bring a friend who knows a bit about engineering, and don’t fall for the view.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

International Travel

Our Partners