The lawyer had successfully defended British tech tycoon Mike Lynch in a fraud trial, and posted to LinkedIn following its resolution

A lawyer who was on the yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily shared a macabre post to social media before his disappearance.

Christopher Morvillo, 59, had been on board the superyacht earlier this week along with British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his wife and 18-year-old daughter.

Others on board included Jonathan Bloomer, a boss at investment company Morgan Stanley.

A statement from the Italian coastguard said: “This morning at about 5am, following a violent storm, a 56-metre yacht called Bayesian flying the British flag sank near Porticello.”

The British-flagged vessel was called Bayesian, and had 22 people on board including 12 passengers and 10 crew when it got into difficulty at around half past four in the morning, according to Italian coast guards.

One person has been confirmed to have died in the shipwreck, while 15 people have been rescued.

The other six people on board the vessel remain missing.

Among them is Morvillo, who had represented Lynch in a recent fraud case in court.

Lawyer Chris Morvillo is still missing. (LinkedIn / Clifford Chance Handout)

Prior to his disappearance the lawyer posted to LinkedIn celebrating the team’s legal victory.

Ending the post, he said: “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.”

In a sign off that would take on a macabre tone following his disappearance at sea, he finished: “And they all lived happily ever after….”

Among those who survived the shipwreck is Charlotte Golunski, a partner at one of Lynch’s firms Invoke Capital.

Golunski was rescued from the wreck along with her one-year-old daughter Sofia and partner James Emsley, Sofia’s dad.

British entrepreneur Mike Lynch is still missing after the shipwreck. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Speaking to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, she recalled her experiences in the wreck, telling the outlet: “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning.

“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.”

Ricardo Thomas, who worked as a private chef on the yacht, has been confirmed to have died in the wreck according to reports. Ricardo was born in Canada and had moved to Antigua.

The Palermo Port Authority confirmed to CBC News that his body had been recovered from the wreckage.

An operation to locate the six missing people is ongoing and updates will be posted accordingly.