A body has been found in the search for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily.
Divers today resumed their search for Hannah Lynch, 18, the daughter of technology tycoon Mike Lynch, who remained ‘unaccounted for’.
The Italian Coastguard told media this morning that they had found a body and it had been brought to shore.
Following the discovery the Lynch family released a statement saying they are “devastated, in shock and 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,” the statement continued.
“Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”
Mr Lynch, his daughter, 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 Bayesian sank at around 5am on Monday in a severe storm.
Italian authorities have launched an investigation into how the boat sank as questions continue to mount around how the tragedy occurred.
They are ‘investigating shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable manslaughter’, Italian media reported on Friday.
For the latest updates see below.
Key Points
Family issue photo with their tribute
13:58 , Will Mata
The Lynch family also issued a photograph of Mike and Hannah alongside their tribute, PA has reported.
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.
Lynch family ‘in shock’ after Sicily tragedy
13:45 , Will Mata
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.
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.
“Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”
Hannah praised for her love of ‘learning, literature and life’ in heartfelt tribute
13:13 , Sami Quadri
Hannah Lynch’s former teacher has praised her love for “learning, literature and life” in a heartfelt tribute.
Jon Mitropoulos-Monk reflected on Hannah’s exceptional qualities, saying: “I’ve never taught someone who combined sky-high intellectual ability with warmth and enthusiasm in the way Hannah did.”
He fondly recalled her impact in the classroom, adding: “She lit up the classroom with her energy, passion for learning and sheer intelligence (though never with a hint of arrogance).”
“She loved literature, learning and life. She was so excited to start studying English at Oxford, a goal she had worked so hard towards.”
“I taught Hannah for four years. I will remember her for what she taught me: kindness, compassion and commitment.”
Hannah Lynch, 18, received her A-level results last week and had secured a place at Oxford.
The Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, London, where she was a pupil, said everyone was “incredibly shocked” following the tragedy.
Family releases first picture of Mike Lynch and daughter Hannah after boat tragedy
13:02
Search crews ‘recover body of final missing person’
12:03 , Sami Quadri
Search crews have recovered the final body from the wreckage of the yacht.
A green body bag was seen being brought to Porticello from the site of the sinking at just before 1pm local time.
Hannah Lynch, 18, daughter of British tycoon Mike Lynch, was the last of six people missing.
Efforts to recover body of final missing person ‘in progress’
11:48
Salvatore Cocina, the head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, has said that efforts to recover the body of the final person missing from the superyacht are “in progress”.
The only individual who remained unaccounted for was 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, daughter of British tycoon Mike Lynch.
Shortly after midday local time, several boats carrying divers departed from Porticello, heading to the site where the yacht sank off the coast of Sicily.
Italian divers ‘find body of last missing person’
11:13
Italian divers have found a body in the search for missing 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, according to Reuters news agency.
Hannah, the daughter of tech tycoon Mike, was the last of six passengers missing from the sinking off the coast of Sicily on Monday.
Hannah was a bright student who had recently secured a place to read English at Oxford.
Mr Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 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.
Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 – including Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares – were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.
Search for tycoon’s daughter has not been ‘easy or quick’
10:45
A spokesman for the Italian Coastguard said the search for the British tycoon Mike Lynch’s daughter Hannah has not been “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey 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-storey building full of water.”
‘Manslaughter probe is launched’ over sinking of Bayesian superyacht
10:09 , Sami Quadri
Italian authorities have reportedly launched a formal investigation into the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian off the Sicilian coast.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Termini Imerese, under the leadership of Ambrogio Cartosio, is probing the circumstances that led to the vessel’s capsizing near Palermo shortly before 5am on Monday.
According to Italian media reports, the investigators are looking into offences of “shipwreck and multiple culpable homicide” against “unknown persons”. These charges are comparable to manslaughter in the UK legal system.
Prosecutors will hold press conference tomorrow
10:03
Authorities in Termini Imerese, a town close to the site of the Bayesian superyacht disaster, have announced a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning.
This comes amid reports that the local public prosecutor’s office is collecting evidence that could lead to a criminal investigation into the yacht’s sinking.
Mum and baby were on top deck when storm hit
09:59 , Sami Quadri
A mother who held her baby daughter above the waves as the Bayesian sank was sleeping on the top deck as the deadly storm hit.
Charlotte Golunski, a partner at London-based venture capitalist firm Invoke Capital, was one of 15 people rescued after the tragedy.
The 35-year-old held daughter Sofia “with all her strength” as tragedy struck, said a doctor.
Dr Domenico Cipolla, head of paediatric care at the Di Cristina Children’s Hospital in Palermo, told Sky News: “She said she was sleeping withthe child on deck while her husband was a further away in another part of the boat.
“She felt the oscillations of the ship and in an instant it was dark. She found herself in the water in just a few minutes.
“She said she tried to hold on to the child but lost the child from her grip for three seconds. She then managed to catch her in the water.’
Her partner, James Emsley, is recovering in hospital, he added.
Moving a metre within wreckage can take a day, says fire service
09:51 , Sami Quadri
The search efforts inside the sunken superyacht Bayesian are progressing at an extremely slow pace, according to fire service spokesman Luca Cari.
In a statement to Sky News, Cari highlighted the challenges faced by the specialist teams, saying: “It’s very difficult to move inside the wreckage.”
Illustrating the painstaking nature of the operation, he added: “Moving just one metre can take up to 24 hours.”
Raising Bayesian ‘will cost 15 million euros and take up to eight weeks’
09:36 , Sami Quadri
Nick Sloane, renowned for leading the Costa Concordia salvage operation in 2012, saysraising the Bayesian superyacht from the seabed off Sicility would cost approximately 15 million euros and take between six to eight weeks.
Sloane outlined the complex operation, whichwould require about 40 specialised divers and a large platform towed to the site.
A massive crane would then be used to lift the yacht, but with extreme caution. “If the yacht is pulled up too quickly it could buckle and breakup under the huge pressure of seawater inside it,” Sloane explained.
The plan would involve removing the yacht’s75-metre high mast before attempting to lift the vessel.
Sloane told La Repubblica newspaper: “I would say it would cost up to 15 million euros but possibly you could do it for a bit less.”
Regarding the timeline, he added, “The recovery operation would take six to eight weeks. It could be completed before the second half of October.”
Search operations continue, rescue service says
09:14
Italy’s fire and rescue service has announced that the search for the last missing person from the superyacht disaster is still underway.
In a recent tweet, they confirmed that underwater search operations have resumed, describing the ongoing efforts as “long and delicate.”
The service also shared images of rescue teams on boats, gearing up for another round of dives in their tireless pursuit to locate the final missing individual.
What we know so far
09:02 , Sami Quadri
Here’s a bullet-point summary to get you up to speed on the superyacht tragedy:
-
A superyacht called the Bayesian sank off the coast of Italy on Monday
-
Current toll: 7 believed dead, 15 survivors
-
Among the confirmed dead is tech magnate Mike Lynch
-
Other victims include Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, and Chris and Neda Morvillo
-
Survivors are recuperating at a hotel in Porticello
-
Sicily Investigators are examining why the Bayesian sank while a nearby sailboat was unaffected
-
The fifth body was recovered and brought to Porticello port on Thursday
-
Italian coastguard is optimistic about Friday’s search efforts for 18-year-old Hannah Lynch
-
No immediate plans to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed
-
Tory MP David Davis vows to campaign against the US-UK extradition treaty in Lynch’s memory
Tributes pour in for tech tycoon Mike Lynch
08:48 , Sami Quadri
Mike Lynch, the British tycoon lost in the superyacht disaster, has been hailed as “a giant of a man” and a “visionary” as tributes poured in from the worlds of business and technology.
The 59-year-old was one of the creators of software giant Autonomy, which became one of the most prominent technology firms on the planet.
Co-founder David Tabizel said: “The world has lost a genius. His family have lost a giant of a man.”
Eleanor Lightbody, chief executive of legal AI company Luminance, said in a statement: “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…and will be sorely missed.”
Pictured: Search resumes for Hannah Lynch
08:33
Italian coast guard ‘trust’ there will be progress
08:18
The Italian coast guard has expressed optimism about Friday’s search for Hannah Lynch.
When questioned about potential developments, spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola said: “We trust”.
Superyacht crew ‘had 16-minute window’ to avoid tragedy
08:06 , Sami Quadri
The crew of tech billionaire Mike Lynch’s luxury yacht had a narrow 16-minute window to avert disaster, according to the Italian Sea Group’s CEO Giovanni Costantino.
The company, which owns the Perini Navi shipyard where the ill-fated Bayesian was constructed, maintains the vessel’s build quality was not at fault.
Costantino instead points to human error as the cause of the tragedy.He told The Financial Times: “The torture lasted 16 minutes. It went down, not in one minute as some scientists have said. It went down in 16 minutes. You can see it from the charts, from the AIS [Automatic Identification System] tracking chart.
“The captain should have prepared the boat and put it in a state of alert and of safety, just like the boat [the Sir Robert Baden Powell] anchored 350 metres away, which was built in 1957 and handled the [weather] event brilliantly.”
Search continues for tycoon’s daughter
07:55 , Matt Watts
The search is continuing for 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian.
The body of her father, tech tycoon Mike Lynch, was recovered on Thursday, while his wife Angela Bacares survived that sunk the boat they were on on Monday.
Divers paused their efforts at 8pm off the coast of Sicily last night and the seach effort resumed on Friday morning.
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
