File photo. A search is underway off the coast of Sicily.
Photo: AFP/ / HEMIS.FR
A New Zealander was on board a luxury super yacht when it capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily overnight.
One man has died and six people are missing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a New Zealander was involved, but couldn’t confirm if they were among the dead or missing.
They say they’re working with local authorities to get further details.
The Italian coast guard says the 56-metre-long yacht sank after being hit by an unexpectedly violent storm just before sunrise.
Captain Carsten Boerner rescued the 15 survivors from a life raft.
The six missing people are understood to be British and American.
British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, who is known as the British Bill Gates, is among the missing.
Eight of the 15 people rescued, including a one-year-old child, were transferred to local hospitals.
Italian media are reporting there were water spouts spotted as the storm struck the north coast of Sicily, which may have caused the capsize.
– Reuters