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Lynch family ‘devastated and in shock’ after bodies of Mike Lynch and daughter Hannah recovered from sunken yacht




The family of Mike and Hannah Lynch, who died after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, have said they are ‘devastated’ and ‘in shock’.

On Friday, 18-year-old Hannah became the final missing passenger to be recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht.

The discovery comes as unconfirmed reports in the Italian media have said that prosecutors are set to announce a manslaughter investigation into the incident.

Hannah and Mike Lynch died after the luxury yacht, the Bayesian, sank in a storm on Monday whilst moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello
Hannah and Mike Lynch died after the luxury yacht, the Bayesian, sank in a storm on Monday whilst moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello

The pair, alongside Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were lost when the yacht sank at around 5am local time on Monday.

In a statement, Mike and Hannah’s family said: “The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

“Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy. They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

Mike Lynch was on board the Bayesian celebrating his acquittal in a fraud case. Picture: Yui Mok/PA
Mike Lynch was on board the Bayesian celebrating his acquittal in a fraud case. Picture: Yui Mok/PA

“Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”

The Lynch family also issued a photograph of Mike and Hannah alongside their tribute.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah was not “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey building full of water”.

The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought to shore in the small fishing village of Porticello, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 – including Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares – were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch’s acquittal in a fraud case in the US.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Tributes have been paid to those who died in the disaster, with the Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk hailing Mr Lynch as ‘kind, compassionate and inspirational’.

A helicopter, remotely controlled underwater vehicles, naval units and cave divers have been used in the search.

Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank as the area was hit by a storm.

The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres (164ft).

Prosecutors in the nearby town Termini Imerese are scheduled to hold a press conference on Saturday.