Inquest hears Suffolk-based tech tycoon Mike Lynch died by drowning
His daughter Hannah's cause of death is still being investigated though
Last updated 4th Oct 2024
A coroner says Suffolk-based tech billionaire Mike Lynch died by drowning - after his superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.
An inquest was opened into his, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah's deaths.
The pair, alongside Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda died when the yacht sank at around 5am local time on Monday 19th August.
At this morning's hearing in Ipswich, the coroner confirmed tests were still taking place to work out the cause of death for three other people who died in the tragedy - including Hannah Lynch.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown of Suffolk Police said their deaths came after the Bayesian "for reasons yet to be unascertained sank rapidly" between 4.15am and 4.45am on August 19.
He said that searches began in the following hours and "continued uninterruptedly in the following days", with bodies later located in the cabins of the vessel.
The officer said the time of death for all four was recorded as 5am the same day.
Mr Brown said the Bayesian was 0.8 nautical miles from the coast of the fishing village of Porticello at the time and had 22 people on board - 12 crew and 10 guests.
Mr Brown said Dr Lynch's provisional medical cause of death was recorded as drowning following a post-mortem examination by Professor Antonia D'Argo.
He said that his death was confirmed on August 22 following the recovery of his body.
He said that the medical cause of death remained under investigation in the cases of Hannah Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer following post-mortem examinations by Dr Tomasso D'Anna.
He said that the deaths of Mr and Mrs Bloomer were confirmed on August 21, and Miss Lynch's death was confirmed on August 23, following the recovery of their bodies.
The officer said an investigation had been started by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to "understand how the Bayesian sank" and the Italian authorities have started "their own independent criminal investigations".
Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 - including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares - were rescued after escaping onto a lifeboat.
The coroner adjourned proceedings until April 15th 2025 "for further work" to be carried out.
Mr Lynch, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was made an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006.
He was also named Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk back in 2014.
In June this year, he was cleared of conducting a massive fraud relating to an 11 billion dollar (ÂŁ8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.
"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."
In a previous statement, Mike and Hannah's family, who live in Suffolk, 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."