A body, believed to be that of Mike Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah , has been found following the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily .
The Italian Coastguard said today they had located the sixth and final body during a search of the wreckage. Hannah was the only person still unaccounted for after the vessel sank in a storm this week.
A rescue boat carrying what is believed to be Hannah’s body returned to the port in Porticello at 1pm local time. The body was unloaded from the vessel and taken into an emergency tent for examination, before being taken to a local hospital.
The teenager was due to start studying English at Oxford next month. Friends have described her as a “supernova” and a “gentle, kind, clever" young woman who was a staunch feminist.
Her mother, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 survivors who were rescued from a lifeboat after the £30 million superyacht sank in minutes at around 5am on Monday morning.
A spokesman for the Italian Coastguard said the search for the missing woman has not been “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-story building full of water”. Vincenzo Zagarola told the PA news agency: “From the first moment it has not been easy or quick to inspect the boat. Think of an 18-story building full of water.”
As the probe into the tragedy continued, questions remain unanswered about how such a magnificent yacht could have quickly failed in a violent storm and how exactly the incident unfolded.
Ms Lynch was described as a "warm and beautiful soul" by friends. Her close pal Katya Lewis said: "The love Hannah had for everything she held dear was passionate and pure. She had a warm and beautiful soul. Being with Hannah made me feel whole and happy. She is the most special friend anyone could ask for and I will always love Hannah."
Jon Mitropoulos-Monk, Head of English at Latymer Upper School, said: “I’ve never taught someone who combined sky-high intellectual ability with warmth and enthusiasm in the way Hannah did. She lit up the classroom with her energy, passion for learning and sheer intelligence (though never with a hint of arrogance).
“One of the best English students in the country, she scored 100% in her English Literature GCSE. By age 16, she’d read Joyce, Faulkner and Nabokov. Beyond that, she devoured the writings of Angela Carter, Joseph Conrad and John Donne. She loved literature, learning and life. She was so excited to start studying English at Oxford, a goal she had worked so hard towards."
Italian investigators said earlier today they "trust" there would be significant progress in the search of the wreck. When asked if any further developments were expected, Vincenzo Zagarola, a spokesperson for the Italian Coastguard, replied: "We trust."
Investigators recovered the bodies of Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith, lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda, on Wednesday, including that of Mr Lynch, following a search of the wreckage. The body of chef Recaldo Thomas was found on Monday shortly after the yacht sank.
A manslaughter probe is now being launched following the disaster. Italian authorities said they were "investigating shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable manslaughter." The Prosecutor's Office of Termini Imerese, led by Ambrogio Cartosio, is working to find why the luxury vessel capsized off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo.
Local outlet Palermo today reported investigators will examine video and photos from homes close to where the ship sank. Prosecutors have already interviewed the yacht's captain James Cutfield, who told them the sinking happened in just a "few minutes."
Billionaire tech tycoon Mr Lynch appeared to have thrown a celebration on his yacht to celebrate being aquitted of fraud and conspiracy charges in a US trial.
Tributes poured in following his death. Family friend Patrick Jacob said: "Mike’s ability to identify and solve complex problems was phenomenal as was his ability to simplify and explain them.
"As a friend, Mike was never dull and always ready for a lively debate on almost any topic conducted with intelligence and convivial vigor. He could be challenging and direct but I never came away from seeing him without feeling my life was enriched by the experience."
Chief executive of legal AI company Luminance has paid tribute to its founder Mike Lynch, saying he was a “visionary unlike any other." She added: "I am devastated to hear the news about our founding investor, Mike Lynch, and all of those involved in this tragic accident.
"Mike was a visionary unlike any other. He had a unique ability to spot the next technological revolution and solve tomorrow’s challenges before others even knew they were coming.
“Beyond that, it was his connection to people that made him special. He had a steadfast belief in the UK’s technology sector, in our incredible academic institutions, and in the talent he took the time to spot and nurture, regardless of background or discipline.
“Above all, Mike was a kind man who had an impact on many and will be sorely missed. I feel honored to have known him, worked with him and learned from him over the years.
“The UK has lost someone with the means, authority, knowledge and drive to propel the UK into technological leadership, but his legacy will live on in all of the extraordinary businesses he built and mentored, as well as his family who are in my thoughts.”
Investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown paid tribute to Jonathan Bloomer, who was previously a board director at the firm, as a “giant in financial services”. The group said: “We are all deeply saddened by this tragic event.
“Jonathan was a giant in financial services, and we remember him fondly at Hargreaves Lansdown as someone who made a major impact on the business with his wealth of experience when he served on the board from 2006-2013 including as our senior independent director.
“We in the Hargreaves Lansdown family will miss him and our thoughts go out to his loved ones, as well as those of the others lost in this awful disaster.”
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