Mike Lynch spoke of his 'second life' just weeks before mysterious disappearance: “I didn't know if I'd ever be coming back"

British tech-tycoon Mike Lynch reportedly spoke about getting a second chance at life, just weeks before he went missing.

Lynch disappeared after a superyacht capsized off the coast of Italy, triggering a frantic search for the 22 individuals on board. Today, authorities announced 15 had been rescued - including Lynch's wife - and one was confirmed dead. Lynch is still unaccounted for, as is his 18-year-old daughter.

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Just months before the tragic incident, Lynch was cleared on fraud charges. He endured a 13-year legal battle over the £8.3billion sale of his firm Autonomy to US company Hewlett-Packard. After being cleared on fraud charges in March this year, Lynch spoke to The Times, explaining how relieved he was to get a second chance at life.

“I'd had to say goodbye to everything and everyone, because I didn't know if I'd ever be coming back,” he said.

Lynch admitted that he feared dying in prison if he was found guilty in the case. He said he had medical issues that he felt would have made surviving in prison difficult.

He added: “If this had gone the wrong way, it would have been the end of my life as I have known it in any sense. It's bizarre, but now you have a second life - the question is, what do you want to do with it?”

Earlier this month, he spoke with BBC Radio 4, about his 'indescribable' relief after being acquitted of fraud charges. He had spent majority of the previous year housebound with an ankle monitor.

Just weeks after the interview, Lynch boarded the super yacht in what was believed to be an elaborate celebration of his acquittal.

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