The Italian fire and rescue team has revealed that one man has died and six other people have been deemed as missing after a super luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

The Italian coastguard also stated that the ship was proudly flying a British flag and amongst those missing are Britons.

Among the 22 people on board the yacht, called Bayesian, were 10 crew members and 12 passengers, including several American and Canadian nationals. Emergency services successfully rescued 15 individuals, including a one-year-old British girl.

The yacht reportedly sank after encountering a heavy storm overnight that caused water spouts to appear over the sea.

Italian media reported that amongst the 15 people who were successfully rescued, a one-year old British girl was safely brought to shore by a firefighter who quickly handed her over to authorities to take her to hospital.

At the hospital the young girl undergone a couple of tests but is luckily said to be fine.

Eight of those rescued are receiving treatment in hospital, the Italian coastguard said.

#MaltaDaily

The Debono Group, the official partner of Toyota in Malta, is proudly supporting para swimmer Maja Theuma as she gears up to represent Malta in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris, scheduled for August 28 – September 8, 2024.

Toyota has a long-standing partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as their worldwide mobility partner. Beyond this global commitment, Toyota extends its support to individual athletes across the world. In Europe alone, Toyota sponsors over 100 athletes from 23 countries, spanning 20 Olympic and 13 Paralympic disciplines.

In Malta, this global initiative is championed by the Debono Group, which has embraced Toyota’s mission on a local scale by sponsoring Maja Theuma. The Debono Group’s support aims to not only enhance Maja’s potential but also to strengthen the connection between Toyota and the communities it serves, bringing international aspirations closer to home.

Geoffrey Debono, CEO of Debono Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “We are thrilled to launch our campaign to support Maja in her journey to the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Mobility has always been central to our mission at Debono Group, and in line with Toyota’s global ‘Mobility for All’ campaign, we are proud to support this talented para-athlete who embodies our shared vision of improving mobility, raising awareness about accessibility, and believing in one’s abilities.”

Maja Theuma, an S6 Paralympic swimmer, has been competing at both local and international levels for the past five years. She has represented Malta at numerous World Para Swimming events, including the 2019 and 2021 WPS World Championships. Her dedication, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of her goal to compete at the Paralympic Games have made her an inspirational figure in local sports and a role model for the broader community.

As the Olympic Games in Paris draw to a close and the Paralympic Games are about to begin, Toyota has played a crucial role in ensuring the success of these events. Toyota has collaborated closely with the Organising Committees to provide sustainable mobility solutions, enhancing safety and efficiency through advanced transport systems, urban traffic management, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. To commemorate the occasion, Toyota also opened an Inclusive Mobility Park in Paris, showcasing innovative mobility devices and services designed to make mobility accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

#MaltaDaily