Suffolk-based tech tycoon Mike Lynch confirmed dead after superyacht sinks
He's one of five people whose bodies have been recovered from the wreckage off the coast of Sicily
Last updated 22nd Aug 2024
The Italian Coastguard's confirmed the names of the five people recovered from the wreckage of a sunken yacht off the coast of Sicily.
Among them is Suffolk-based British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, though searches are ongoing for his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Lynch.
Rescuers have also confirmed they've also recovered the bodies of Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan William Bloomer, his wife Anne Elizabeth Judith (Judy) Bloomer, lawyer Christopher Jude Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo.
The vessel - named Bayesian - sank around 5am on Monday after it was hit by a storm.
The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the Bayesian superyacht, was recovered at the scene of the sinking later that day.
The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch's acquittal in a fraud case in the US.
Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 - including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares - were rescued after escaping onto a lifeboat.
"We were aware something was very wrong"
The captain of a yacht, the Sir Robert BP, who helped to rescue them, described how those aboard his vessel spotted the distress flare set off from a life raft.
Karsten Borner said his crew noticed the Bayesian had disappeared before a passenger spotted the flare.
He told Sky News: "We couldn't see them any more and they disappeared from the radar, we were busy keeping our own ship sailing.
"We couldn't see the ship again so we were aware something was very wrong."
He said it was only when the tender set out that they found the life raft.
Mr Borner continued: "It turned out to be the life raft, a 12-person life raft with 15 people inside including one baby.
"They stepped over to our tender and we brought them back to our ship. There we took good care of them, gave them dry clothes, towels, blankets, tea and coffee and so on and took care of them."