A body bag is carried to shore at Porticello harbour in Sicily on August 23, 2024. CNN
The body believed to be that of Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, has been found in the wreck of the Bayesian superyacht that sank off Sicily earlier this week. The recovery was confirmed by an Italian Coast Guard official on Friday.
Divers from the Italian Coast Guard carried the final body bag from their rescue boat to the Porticello harbour, marking the end of a five-day search for the wreck’s victims. The shipwreck, located about 50 meters (160 feet) underwater, posed significant challenges for the divers. They had only about 12 minutes to explore the site and retrieve bodies before having to resurface, complicating their task.
So far, six bodies had been recovered over the previous days. With the discovery of Hannah Lynch’s body, the search for the seven missing individuals concluded. Earlier, the body of her father, Mike Lynch, was also retrieved and identified. The yacht, which was British-flagged and carried 22 passengers and crew, sank on Monday after a violent storm broke its mast, one of the tallest in the world. On that day, 15 people were rescued, and one body, identified as the onboard chef Recaldo Thomas was found.
The initial reports indicated six people were missing: the Lynches, Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, and Chris and Neda Morvillo. With Hannah Lynch's body now recovered, the authorities’ focus shifts to understanding the causes of the tragedy.
Hannah and Mike Lynch are pictured in this photo. CNN
A spokesperson for the Lynch family expressed profound grief and appreciation for the support they have received. They thanked the Italian coastguard, emergency services, and all involved in the rescue efforts. They also requested privacy during this difficult time.
Hannah Lynch, who was about to begin her studies in English literature at the University of Oxford, was remembered fondly by her teacher Jon Mitropoulos-Monk and her friend Katya Lewis. Mitropoulos-Monk praised her intelligence and enthusiasm, while Lewis described her as a warm and special friend.
Hannah’s mother, Angela Bacares, survived the shipwreck and is currently receiving treatment in a Sicilian hospital.
As the search efforts wind down, Italian authorities are still investigating how the 56-meter (184-foot) yacht sank so suddenly. Unverified security camera footage seemed to show a waterspout, a tornado-like storm over Sicily, contributing to the sinking. Witnesses and local reports have detailed how quickly the yacht disappeared, leaving little chance for rescue.
Giovanni Constantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which manufactured the yacht, criticized the crew’s handling of the situation. He mentioned several avoidable mistakes, such as failing to secure the hull and properly prepare the vessel for the storm. This has sparked further scrutiny of the yacht’s safety measures and the events leading up to the disaster.
