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Husband and wife among 3 missing American sailors off the coast of Mexico

The Mexican Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are scouring a 2,500-mile area at sea in search of a married couple and another sailor who have been missing for 13 days since setting sail from Mexico en route to San Diego.

Husband and wife Frank and Kerry O'Brien and their friend, William Gross, have not been seen since April 4, when they set sail from the Mexican port city of Mazatlán.

The trio planned to stop in Cabo San Lucas for supplies on April 6, but the Coast Guard said there's no record of them arriving.

"There is no confirmation they had filled the vessel's fuel tanks, nor confirmation that they took on food and supplies," Coast Guard Commander Gregory Higgins told NBC News correspondent Miguel Almaguer on TODAY on April 17.

Coast Guard officials don't believe the group had enough fuel or food on board for 13 days at sea, which is why they and the Mexican Navy are aggressively pursuing the search and rescue.

All three are experienced sailors, and the O'Briens are even licensed Coast Guard captains.

"We’re pleading for anyone out there to be on the lookout," Ellen Argall, Kerry O'Brien's mother, told Almaguer. "We miss you so much and love you so much. We just want you to come home."

The group was traveling on the O'Brien's 44-foot sailing vessel, the "Ocean Bound," with minimal technology on board. They may have encountered winds over 30 knots and 20-foot waves, according to the Coast Guard.

Their disappearance comes about a month after four Americans were kidnapped and two of them killed, likely by drug cartels in the Mexican border town of Matamoros.

The three missing sailors left from a "do not travel" zone in the Sinaloa state in Mexico.

“Hopefully someone sees them and gets them to make contact or relay on some messages out there," Gross' daughter, Melissa Spicuzza, said on TODAY.

Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here! ) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else. 

A massive search for 3 missing American sailors off Mexico coast has been called off

The search for three Americans missing along with their sailboat off Mexico's northern Pacific coast since April 4 has been suspended, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

In a news release Wednesday, the agency said the search was suspended pending "further developments" after SEMAR — the Mexican navy — and the Coast Guard spent roughly 280 hours searching Mexico's northern Pacific coast.

After searching nearly 200,000 square miles with no sign of the missing passengers and the missing sailing vessel, officials suspended the search.

"SEMAR and U.S. Coast Guard assets worked hand-in-hand for all aspects of the case. Unfortunately, we found no evidence of the three Americans' whereabouts or what might have happened," Coast Guard Cmdr. Gregory Higgins said.

The three sailors — identified as Kerry O'Brien, Frank O'Brien and William Gross — reportedly left Mazatlán, a city on Mexico's west coast, aboard a 44-foot boat named Ocean Bound on April 4 and were headed to San Diego.

They planned to stop in Cabo San Lucas — roughly 224 miles from Mazatlán — on April 6 to report in before they continued their trip, the Coast Guard said. However, there was no record of the three mariners arriving in Cabo San Lucas nor a check-in of their location.

In an interview with San Diego TV station NBC 7 , the family of William Gross told the station they have not lost hope and that he and his sailing companions will be found.

"Our hope is for our Dad, and Kerry and Frank to be sailing into port soon, tired and sore, but safe," the Gross family said in a statement to the station. "And our hearts certainly go out to the other two families who are being equally impacted during this extremely difficult time."

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Watch CBS News

3 American sailors missing off coast of Mexico

April 15, 2023 / 8:01 AM EDT / CBS News

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy are searching for three American sailors who were last heard from on April 4 near Mazatlán, Mexico.

Kerry O'Brien, Frank O'Brien and William Gross were aboard the sailing vessel "Ocean Bound," a 44-foot La Fitte that left Mazatlán en route to San Diego, according to a news release Friday from the U.S. Coast Guard. The sailors planned to stop in Cabo San Lucas on April 6 for provisions and then report in before continuing on to San Diego.

But there has been no record of them arriving in Cabo San Lucas or a report in regarding their location, according to the release.

On Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard's Northern California division posted information and photos regarding the missing trio and their vessel.

The Mexican Navy, with the assistance of the #USCG , is searching for three American sailors, last heard from April 4, near Mazatlan, MX. en route to San Diego. Kerry and Frank O'Brien and William Gross were sailing aboard the 44-foot S/V Ocean Bound. https://t.co/0bzFQVsYC3 pic.twitter.com/GCcbGBvkQH — USCGNorCal (@USCGNorCal) April 15, 2023

"Search and rescue coordinators contacted marinas throughout Baja, Mexico, with negative sightings of the vessel," according to the U.S. Coast Guard's release. "Urgent marine broadcasts have been issued over VHF radio requesting all mariners to keep a look out for the missing persons and the vessel."

Anyone with information should call the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue coordination center at (510) 437-3701.

• United States Coast Guard
• Missing Persons

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Three San Diego-bound sailors missing after departing Mexico more than a week ago

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Mexican and U.S. authorities are searching for three American sailors who went missing after departing Mexico for San Diego more than a week ago.

The sailors, who were traveling on a 44-foot boat called Ocean Bound, left Mazatlán, Mexico, on April 4. They missed a scheduled stop for supplies in Cabo San Lucas two days later, according to a news release from the United States Coast Guard.

The Mexican Navy, with the assistance of the #USCG , is searching for three American sailors, last heard from April 4, near Mazatlan, MX. en route to San Diego. Kerry and Frank O'Brien and William Gross were sailing aboard the 44-foot S/V Ocean Bound. https://t.co/0bzFQVsYC3 pic.twitter.com/GCcbGBvkQH — USCGNorCal (@USCGNorCal) April 15, 2023

The Mexican and U.S. officials are working together to search for the sailors, Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross, according to the Coast Guard.

Search and rescue coordinators have contacted marinas throughout Baja, Mexico, but have not received any reported sightings of the boat or the sailors, officials said. Urgent marine information broadcasts have also been issued over VHF radio requesting all mariners to keep a lookout for the missing people and vessel.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the three sailors or their vessel are asked to contact the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue coordination center at (510) 437-3701.

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Debbie Truong is a former higher education reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she covered PK-12 education for WAMU-FM, the NPR affiliate in Washington, D.C., and the Washington Post. She attended Syracuse University and received a master’s degree in journalism from American University. She grew up in the San Gabriel Valley.

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U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican navy are searching for 3 missing American sailors

Juliana Kim

The three American sailors were expected to stop in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico's Baja California before returning to the United States. Luis Acosta/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The three American sailors were expected to stop in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico's Baja California before returning to the United States.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Mexican navy are searching for three American sailors who went missing over 10 days ago in Mexico.

The three sailors — identified as Kerry O'Brien, Frank O'Brien and William Gross — reportedly left Mazatlán, a city near Mexico's west coast, aboard a 44-foot boat named Ocean Bound on April 4 and were headed to San Diego.

UPDATE: A massive search for 3 missing American sailors off Mexico coast has been called off

According to the Coast Guard, the three mariners planned to stop in Cabo San Lucas, about 224 miles from Mazatlán, on April 6 to report in before they continued their trip.

"However, there was no record of them arriving in Cabo San Lucas or a report in of their location," the Coast Guard said in a statement on Friday.

The Mexican Navy, with the assistance of the #USCG , is searching for three American sailors, last heard from April 4, near Mazatlan, MX. en route to San Diego. Kerry and Frank O'Brien and William Gross were sailing aboard the 44-foot S/V Ocean Bound. https://t.co/0bzFQVsYC3 pic.twitter.com/GCcbGBvkQH — USCGNorCal (@USCGNorCal) April 15, 2023

Search-and-rescue coordinators, who reached out to marinas near Cabo San Lucas, have not received any sightings of the boat, the Coast Guard added.

Federal authorities are working with the Mexican navy to locate the three sailors.

• U.S. Coast Guard

3 American sailors missing off the coast of Mexico

They haven't been heard from since April 4.

The Mexican Navy and United States Coast Guard are searching for three missing American sailors who have not been seen since April 4.

According to the Coast Guard , Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross were sailing onboard the “Ocean Bound,” a 44-foot LaFitte sailboat. They were last heard from on April 4 when they departed Mazatlán, Mexico -- a resort town in Sinaloa.

The trio of Americans were sailing to San Diego with a planned stop in Cabo San Lucas, where they would pick up additional supplies on April 6 but the Coast Guard said there is no record of the group arriving in Cabo San Lucas or providing any report of their location. Additionally, marinas in Baja, Mexico, have yet to see the vessel or sailors.

The trip from Mazatlán to Cabo San Lucas requires an over 200-mile sail across the southern Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

The Mexican Navy is now searching for the missing sailors with assistance from the Coast Guard, asking any mariner to look for the missing vessel.

“Search and rescue coordinators have contacted marinas throughout Baja, Mexico, with negative sightings of the vessel,” the Coast Guard said. “Urgent marine information broadcasts have been issued over VHF radio requesting all mariners to keep a lookout for the missing persons and vessel.”

The three sailors were traveling on a 44-foot sailboat designed by Robert H. Perry Yacht Designers , equipped with a single mast for sailing and an auxiliary motor. According to Cruising World , the LaFitte 44 is a formidable ocean sailboat, with multiple owners circumnavigating the world with the boat.

ABC News' Izzy Alvarez contributed to this report.

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Missing Sailor’s Boat Is Found Off the Mexican Coast

Donald Lawson, 41, of Baltimore was training for a solo sailing trip around the world when he left Acapulco on July 5. His capsized boat, the Defiant, was found in the Pacific on July 24.

By Chang Che

The capsized boat of Donald Lawson, a sailor from Baltimore who disappeared in the Pacific Ocean over two weeks ago, has been found off the coast of Mexico, his wife said.

A Mexican Navy search and rescue team discovered a vessel, later identified as Mr. Lawson’s trimaran, the Defiant, about 410 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico, on Thursday.

Mr. Lawson, 41, was training for an attempt to set a world record while circumnavigating the globe solo in a sailboat. His wife, Jacqueline Lawson, said in a statement on Sunday that she lost contact with him on July 12 after his boat lost engine power in a storm off the Mexican coast. Mr. Lawson was still missing as of Monday.

Here’s what to know about the search for Mr. Lawson.

Who is Donald Lawson?

Mr. Lawson, 41, is a professional sailor from Baltimore who hoped to become the fastest person to sail solo and nonstop around the world in a boat no longer than 60 feet. He also hoped to become one of the few African Americans to set world records in the sport of sailing. Mr. Lawson and his wife started the Dark Seas Project, an effort to promote more diversity in the sport of sailing. He is also the chairman of the diversity, equity and inclusion committee for U.S. Sailing, the national governing body for the sport.

In a 2022 interview published on the U.S. Sailing website , Mr. Lawson said that when he took up sailing, “I was the only African American I saw, but my passion, love and drive made me forget about issues or people who didn’t want me there.”

Mr. Lawson believed the Defiant, a 60-foot sailing vessel known as a trimaran, could help him achieve his ambitions. Before Mr. Lawson acquired it, the Defiant set a speed record in a 2017 race from California to Hawaii. It has also been used as a training boat for the America’s Cup race, Ms. Lawson said.

Mr. Lawson was last heard from on July 12.

Mr. Lawson set off on July 5 from Acapulco, where he had just finished repairing his boat. He was bound for Baltimore by way of the Panama Canal as he was gearing up for his world record sailing attempt in the fall. Four days later, on July 9, he used a satellite communication device popular among sailors to text his wife that he was experiencing issues with the Defiant. The boat had lost engine power and he was forced to rely on a wind generator.

Mr. Lawson lost the wind generator in a storm on July 12, Ms. Lawson said in her statement. It was the last time she heard from her husband.

Ray Feldmann, a spokesman for Ms. Lawson, said in a phone interview that Ms. Lawson had remained hopeful for several days that her husband would find a way to get in touch with her.

“It was not uncommon for him to shut down communications in order to conduct fixes to the boat,” Mr. Feldmann said. But on July 21, after almost 10 days without contact, Ms. Lawson reported him missing.

The capsized Defiant was found on July 24.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued an alert to vessels in the area where Mr. Lawson’s boat was last detected. According to the tracking app PredictWind , that was on July 13, roughly 320 miles south of Acapulco.

The Mexican Navy began a search. On July 24, one of its planes spotted a capsized boat later identified as the Defiant. The U.S. Coast Guard said it had dispatched a 210-foot patrol boat called the Active to assist in the search-and-rescue operation.

Rescue teams did not locate Mr. Lawson near his boat in the days after it was found. The U.S. Coast Guard said it had suspended its search mission on Friday evening, leaving it to the Mexican naval authorities to continue the search for Mr. Lawson.

The U.S. Coast Guard has “limited capabilities” for such a long-range rescue operation, said Edward Wargo, a spokesman. And Mr. Lawson’s boat, which was found hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico, was outside its jurisdiction.

The search efforts could restart if new information about Mr. Lawson turned up, Mr. Wargo added.

Mr. Lawson might be on a missing life raft.

When Mr. Lawson set sail from Mexico aboard the Defiant, the boat was equipped with a survival suit, a 12-foot dinghy and a life raft. The Mexican Navy found the suit, which could keep him dry, and the dinghy during its search mission, Mr. Feldmann said.

But as of Sunday, the Mexican Navy had not found the life raft after repeated searches in the area where the Defiant was found.

“I view this as encouraging news,” Ms. Lawson said in her statement on Sunday. “I believe Donald used the life raft when the Defiant became disabled, and that he is still out there somewhere.”

She added that she and her family remained “hopeful and optimistic” that her husband would be found alive.

Mr. Feldmann said that neither he nor Ms. Lawson received an update on the search on Monday.

Because Mr. Lawson has been missing for over two weeks, Mr. Feldmann said, the only hope is that he is in the life raft, perhaps with a supply of potable water taken from the Defiant before it capsized.

“Maybe he’s adrift or found an island or some shelter of some kind,” he said. “Absent evidence to the contrary, we hope he’s on the raft and he will be located.”

Chang Che is the Asia technology correspondent for The Times. He previously worked for The China Project and as a freelance writer covering Chinese technology and society. More about Chang Che

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Husband and wife among 3 missing American sailors off the coast of Mexico

The Mexican Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are scouring a 2,500-mile area at sea in search of a married couple and another sailor who have been missing for 13 days since setting sail from Mexico en route to San Diego.

Husband and wife Frank and Kerry O'Brien and their friend, William Gross, have not been seen since April 4, when they set sail from the Mexican port city of Mazatlán.

The trio planned to stop in Cabo San Lucas for supplies on April 6, but the Coast Guard said there's no record of them arriving.

"There is no confirmation they had filled the vessel's fuel tanks, nor confirmation that they took on food and supplies," Coast Guard Commander Gregory Higgins told NBC News correspondent Miguel Almaguer on TODAY on April 17.

The Mexican Navy, with the assistance of the #USCG , is searching for three American sailors, last heard from April 4, near Mazatlan, MX. en route to San Diego. Kerry and Frank O'Brien and William Gross were sailing aboard the 44-foot S/V Ocean Bound. https://t.co/0bzFQVsYC3 pic.twitter.com/GCcbGBvkQH — USCGNorCal (@USCGNorCal) April 15, 2023

Coast Guard officials don't believe the group had enough fuel or food on board for 13 days at sea, which is why they and the Mexican Navy are aggressively pursuing the search and rescue.

All three are experienced sailors, and the O'Briens are even licensed Coast Guard captains.

"We’re pleading for anyone out there to be on the lookout," Ellen Argall, Kerry O'Brien's mother, told Almaguer. "We miss you so much and love you so much. We just want you to come home."

The group was traveling on the O'Brien's 44-foot sailing vessel, the "Ocean Bound," with minimal technology on board. They may have encountered winds over 30 knots and 20-foot waves, according to the Coast Guard.

Their disappearance comes about a month after four Americans were kidnapped and two of them killed, likely by drug cartels in the Mexican border town of Matamoros.

The three missing sailors left from a "do not travel" zone in the Sinaloa state in Mexico.

“Hopefully someone sees them and gets them to make contact or relay on some messages out there," Gross' daughter, Melissa Spicuzza, said on TODAY.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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3 American Sailors Missing Off Coast of Mexico for 13 Days, Including Husband and Wife

Kerry O'Brien, Frank O'Brien and William Gross have not been heard from since April 4

A search is underway for three Americans who have been missing at sea for 13 days now since setting sail from Mexico en route to San Diego.

Frank O'Brien and Kerry O'Brien — who are husband and wife — as well as their friend, William Gross, have not been seen or heard from since April 4, when the trio left Mazatlán, Mexico , according to a release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

A stop in Cabo San Lucas for supplies had been planned for April 6, authorities say, but their 44-foot sailing vessel was not recorded arriving. A report of their location hasn't been made either.

Now, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy are combing a 2,500-mile area at sea in hopes to track them down.

"Search and rescue coordinators have contacted marinas throughout Baja, Mexico, with negative sightings of the vessel," the Coast Guard states. "Urgent marine information broadcasts have been issued over VHF radio requesting all mariners to keep a lookout for the missing persons and vessel."

Gross' daughter Melissa Spicuzza told NBC San Diego that the O'Brien family invited her father to join them at sea, with all three sailors having decades of experience and the O'Briens having Coast Guard captain's licenses.

"I'm just wanting my dad, my dad and the O'Briens, to roll back in and say, 'What's going on guys?'" she said.

"The last message I got from my dad was, 'We have a 9:30 departure today,' on Tuesday, April 4," Spicuzza added. "... We communicate constantly with family and friends. We have a Facebook group that we post to. We check in. If our sailing plan changes, we let people know."

The journey, in which the trio is traveling on a LaFitte model 44 sailing yacht, requires a 200-plus-mile sail across the southern Gulf of California, per ABC News . The sailboat itself features a single mast for sailing and an auxiliary motor, the publication reports, and is designed by Robert H. Perry Yacht Designers .

Kerry O'Brien's mother Ellen Argyle told local outlet KFMB that her daughter has "always loved the water" since she was a child, and has been sailing for about 20 years.

"They just keep hoping, hoping and praying that I'll hear some good news. I want good news, not bad news," Argyle said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Family members have said that hundreds of boats have been helping in the search, with sailors throughout Southern California offering assistance.

"There is no confirmation they had filled the vessel's fuel tanks, nor confirmation that they took on food and supplies," Coast Guard Commander Gregory Higgins told NBC News on the Today show Monday, adding that they don't believe the trio have enough fuel or food on board for 13 days at sea.

Those with any information on their whereabouts are encouraged to contact the U.S. Coast Guard's rescue coordination center .

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clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

Search ends for 3 Americans on sailboat that went missing off Mexico

Three reportedly experienced sailors were traveling to San Diego on a 44-foot boat

The U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican Navy have given up their search for three Americans who went missing while traveling by sailboat off the Pacific coast of Mexico, American officials said Wednesday.

The sailors were last heard from nearly two weeks ago after reportedly departing Mazatlán in Sinaloa state.

In a news release, the U.S. Coast Guard said the search spanned over 280 hours and covered more than 200,000 square nautical miles. There was no sign of the ship or its crew.

“This is a reminder for mariners of the importance of providing a person ashore with your float plan which in this case allowed the U.S Coast Guard to be notified when the missing sailors did not check in with family,” the military branch said in the news release.

“It also underscores the importance of carrying a registered 406MHZ electronic position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) for automatic notification in emergencies.”

Sailboat crew rescued in Pacific after abandoning ship sunk by whale

Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard said it was aiding the Mexican Navy in the search for the 44-foot sailing vessel Ocean Bound, which was carrying Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross.

The trio reportedly left Mazatlán on April 4 on a trip that would end in San Diego. They planned to stop in Cabo San Lucas on April 6 to pick up supplies and check in.

“However, there was no record of them arriving in Cabo San Lucas or a report in of their location,” a news release says.

Coast Guard chief petty officer Levi Read, with the District 11 public affairs office, told The Washington Post there was inclement weather at the time they were last heard from.

“Reports were that there were 30-knot winds and 15- to 20-foot swells, which is pretty rough,” he said. “There were other sailing vessels out there at that time that did fine. It wasn’t smooth.”

The Mexican Navy and Coast Guard supplied boats and planes to look for the missing boat, Read said.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico?

In interviews with “Good Morning America,” family members said the three sailors had significant experience.

“She’s a licensed captain by the United States Coast Guard and has got over 20 years of experience sailing, and her husband is not far behind her either,” said Mark Argall, Kerry O’Brien’s brother.

Melissa Spicuzza, Gross’s daughter, told the news program that her father had been sailing since the 1970s and is a mechanic by trade, “so he can fix anything.”

“I have not been out of contact with my father pretty much my entire life,” she said. “We are incredibly close.”

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Yacht designer Bob Perry weighs in on 3 missing American sailors

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KGTV) — The search continues for three missing American sailors who were traveling off the coast of Mexico.

Frank and Kerry O’Brien and William Gross were last heard from on April 4th when they departed from Mazatlan. The three reportedly planned to stop for provisions in Cabo San Lucas before sailing to San Diego, but there is no record of them stopping in Cabo.

ABC 10News spoke with Bob Perry, the designer of the LaFitte 44 Cutter they were sailing.

“My heart sinks,” said Perry. “I was worried…I did lose a little sleep. But I wait for facts.”

Perry is a world-renowned yacht designer with decades of experience. He says that specific design is built to withstand the conditions the sailors were likely up against. The U.S. Coast Guard has estimated they faced winds over 30 knots and seas 15-20 feet.

“You’re not out there enjoying yourself in those conditions, but you should not be in survival mode. You should be able to shorten sail and sail comfortably and not be in survival mode,” said Perry.

He says the distance shouldn’t have been the problem either.

“From Mazatlan to Cabo and back to San Diego…that’s not something that was too ambitious for them for the vessel they had?” asked ABC 10News.

“No, that’s a trip to the grocery store for this boat. It should be a piece of cake. In fact, you could probably find countless LaFittes that have made that trip,” he said.

Perry says the LaFitte 44 Cutter has gone further in worse conditions.

“Many of my boats in that size range have done solo circumnavigations non-stop. That’s once around the world by yourself, no stops,” he explained.

Given the three sailors on board all had decades of experience, Perry briefly touched on other possibilities.

“It could be a fire…which would be unusual. Could be hit by a ship,” he said.

But ultimately, with no evidence and no distress signal detected, Perry says it’s all speculation so far. He hasn’t given up hope that the three may still be found.

“Keep an open mind and wait for hopefully facts to come in," he said.

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Local News and Opinion for San Diego

Coast Guard, Mexican Navy Searching for Missing Sailboat with 3 Aboard Headed to San Diego

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A search was underway Saturday for three American citizens who were sailing from Mexico to San Diego and have been missing for more than a week.

Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross left Mazatlán, Mexico, on April 4 on the sailing vessel Ocean Bound, a 44-foot La Fitte, and had planned to stop in Cabo San Lucas on April 6 en route to San Diego, according to the U.S. Coast Guard .

Coast Guard officials said the trio was planning to obtain provisions during the stop in Cabo San Lucas, but there is no record that they ever arrived.

Mexican Navy officials have joined the Coast Guard in searching for the group. The search has included various marinas throughout Baja California.

Anyone with information about the trio was asked to contact the Coast Guard at 510-437-3701.

Who was on superyacht that sank off Sicily?

Twenty-two people were on board the Bayesian superyacht including British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, his wife and 18-year-old daughter, and Morgan Stanley International boss Jonathan Bloomer.

Friday 23 August 2024 12:34, UK

Details have emerged of the 22 people who were on board the superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily.

The British-flagged vessel named Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 members of crew when it got into difficulty in the early hours of Monday.

Seven bodies have now been recovered. The other 15 people on board were rescued.

Here's what we know about those who were on the yacht.

Follow latest updates on the superyacht sinking

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch was among the original six people missing. On Thursday, divers confirmed his body had been recovered.

Raised in Ilford, east London by Irish parents, the 59-year-old made millions with the software company Autonomy he set up in 1996.

He had an estimated net worth of £852m, according to the 2023 Sunday Times Rich List, and is believed to have owned the yacht.

Off the back of Automomy's global success, Mr Lynch was given the roles of science adviser to former prime minister David Cameron and non-executive director of the BBC.

The Cambridge maths and sciences graduate sold the firm for £8.64bn to US giant Hewlett Packard (HP) in 2011.

Dubbed the "British Bill Gates", Mr Lynch has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case related to the sale of Autonomy to HP in 2011.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American technology firm. Mr Lynch denied any wrongdoing.

In June, a US jury cleared him of all charges .

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies days before yacht disaster

Hannah Lynch

Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch was also on board. A body believed to be that of the teenager was recovered on Friday from the yacht wreckage.

She had been on holiday with her parents, having secured a place to study English at the University of Oxford, according to reports.

Her former school, Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said they were "incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic accident" when the yacht first sank.

Angela Bacares

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares was on board the yacht and was rescued.

The 57-year-old said she and Mr Lynch were awoken by the boat "tilting" at 4am - half an hour before it sank.

Jonathan Bloomer

Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International, was confirmed dead on Thursday.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Bloomer appeared as a defence witness for Mr Lynch during his US criminal trial and the pair were good friends. He also chaired Autonomy's audit committee.

The 70-year-old was the chief executive of UK-Hong Kong insurer Prudential until he was ousted by the board in 2005.

He was also chairman of the insurance provider Hiscox.

Judy Bloomer

Mr Bloomer's wife Judy was on the yacht trip with her husband. Divers confirmed they found her body on Thursday.

Mrs Bloomer was a former board member at The Eve Appeal charity, which focuses on gynaecological cancers.

The charity described her as a "brilliant champion for women's health and medical research... an incredible supporter, committee member, and trustee of our charity for over 20 years".

Read more: 'Alarming' potential cause of superyacht disaster What we know about superyacht that sank

Recaldo Thomas

The yacht's on-board chef Recaldo Thomas died in the sinking.

He was Canadian-Antiguan and part of the crew of the Bayesian.

His body was the first to be recovered from the wreckage.

Chris Morvillo

US lawyer Chris Morvillo was among those divers found dead on Thursday.

The father-of-two worked on Mr Lynch's US fraud trial and was a partner of law firm Clifford Chance's US branch.

Mr Morvillo was assistant attorney for the Southern District of New York between 1995 and 2005 and worked on the terrorist investigation into the 9/11 attacks.

In a recent LinkedIn post, he thanked the legal team that helped win Mr Lynch's trial.

Signing off the post, he said: "And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo.

"None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after…."

Neda Morvillo

Mr Morvillo's wife Neda died in the disaster alongside her husband.

The 57-year-old had a luxury jewellery brand, which she ran under her maiden name Neda Nassiri.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Ayla Ronald

Ayla Ronald, a senior associate at Clifford Chance, survived the yacht disaster, the law firm confirmed.

The 36-year-old worked alongside Chris Morvillo in helping defend Mike Lynch in court.

Clifford Chance said in a statement: "Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident."

She is originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, but lives in London, her father told local media there.

He said she was left "very shaken" but "she and her partner are alive".

Charlotte Golunski

Charlotte Golunski was on board the yacht and was rescued along with her one-year-old daughter, Sofia.

She spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, confirming she survived the yacht sinking and told how she kept her daughter alive after she was rescued.

"I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning," she said.

"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."

The 35-year-old is a partner at one of Mr Lynch's firms - Invoke Capital - and has worked there since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She also worked at Hewlett Packard, which acquired Autonomy in 2011, for 11 months.

Before that, she studied history at the University of Oxford.

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James Emsley

Ms Golunski's partner James Emsley was also rescued from the yacht, according to Sicily's civil protection agency.

The 36-year-old is the father of her one-year-old daughter.

James Cutfield

The 51-year-old captain of the yacht spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica after he was rescued.

Mr Cutfield, from New Zealand, was taken for treatment at the Termini Imerese emergency unit, where he told the newspaper: "We didn't see it coming."

Leah Randall

Leah Randall was part of the Bayesian crew and survived the sinking.

She was pictured going ashore in Porticello on Monday morning and is from South Africa.

Her mother Heidi told Sky News said she was "beyond relieved that my daughter's life was spared by the grace of God".

"It doesn't make it any easier living with the heartache of those who have lost their lives [or are] missing. My very deepest condolences to the chef's family as they formed a great friendship," she said.

Katja Chicken

Katja Chicken was another South African member of crew on board the Bayesian and was pictured being brought to safety in Porticello on Monday.

The Italian coastguard confirmed on Tuesday evening that Leo Eppel, a crew member, also survived the yacht sinking.

Related Topics

• Superyacht sinking

Search on for Baltimore sailor reported missing at sea near Mexico

A sailor from Baltimore who was hoping to shatter multiple world records on his boat has been missing for nearly two weeks and was last heard from off Acapulco, Mexico, his brother and the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Donald Lawson, 41, an experienced sailor, set off from Acapulco on July 5 on his 60-foot racing trimaran, and “a storm knocked out one of the engines” on his vessel July 9, Quentin Lawson Sr., 39, his brother, said Tuesday.

Engine trouble prompted Lawson to change course and head back to Acapulco, his brother said.

His initial plan had been to travel from Acapulco to Central America’s west coast, through the Panama Canal and to Baltimore, his brother said.

Lawson's wife, Jacqueline Lawson, told NBC affiliate WBAL of Baltimore that he had no engine power after a storm and was relying on a wind generator. A few days later, she said, he lost his backup wind turbine.  

Lawson's family last had communication from him July 13, when he was about 285 nautical miles from Acapulco, his brother said.

Quentin Lawson said data from his brother’s vessel, Defiance, showed he drastically reduced speed late July 12, when he was traveling with the wind at around 11 knots. But then he changed course and began traveling against the wind, and his speed reduced to 2.9 knots, Quentin Lawson said.

“I believe something happened at that moment,” he said. "It doesn’t make sense to turn out of the wind into the wind when you’re on emergency route to turn back.”

Petty Officer Hunter Schnabel of Coast Guard District 11, based in Alumina, California, said Tuesday that Mexico’s Maritime Search and Rescue unit was leading efforts to find Lawson’s trimaran.

Quentin Lawson said his brother, the founder of the nonprofit Dark Seas Project , had goals to break 15 world records, including becoming the fastest person and the first African American to circumnavigate the globe alone in a sailing vessel no longer than 60 feet.

He planned to do it in 70 days, much quicker than the American record of 105 days, Lawson told WBAL in April 2020.

The same year, he said he was trying to boost participation in sailing among Black youths.

He told the station that it was in a youth sailing program that he realized his dream.

“I went and asked the captain, ‘Hey, how far can you take on a boat like this?’" Lawson told the station. "He looked at me and said, ‘Technically, you can sail it around the world.’ And that’s when the light bulb went off. I said — at 9 years old — ‘I want to sail around the world.’"

Quentin Lawson said that the data from his brother's boat was troubling but that he was a sailor with decades of experience.

“I’m optimistic. But I’m a little afraid,” he said. “It’s just not like him to make that sudden movement.”

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.