British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, known for founding the software company Autonomy, is missing after a yacht he was aboard capsized off the coast of Sicily early Monday. Lynch, whose company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for $11.7 billion, has been at the center of a high-profile legal saga that followed the deal. Accused of fraud in connection with the acquisition, Lynch was recently acquitted by a San Francisco jury. However, he had previously lost a related civil case in the U.K.
Lynch’s yacht was reportedly struck by a waterspout, a tornado-like phenomenon over water, causing it to capsize near Palermo. The tragic incident has left Lynch and five others missing. At the same time, 15 people, including his wife, have been rescued, according to the Associated Press. Authorities have recovered one body from the scene. However, the identities of the missing individuals remain uncertain as the search continues.
The disappearance of Lynch comes at a tumultuous time, following the death of Stephen Chamberlin, a former Autonomy executive and co-defendant in Lynch's U.S. trial. Chamberlin was killed in a tragic accident just days earlier after being struck by a car while jogging.
Lynch also founded the venture capital firm Invoke Capital, which successfully raised over $1 billion for its first and only fund, further cementing his influence in the tech industry. His current whereabouts remain unknown as search and rescue efforts continue off the coast of Sicily. The incident has drawn significant attention due to Lynch's prominence in the tech world and the ongoing legal battles surrounding his career.
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