Tributes have been paid to 18-year-old Hannah Lynch after divers recovered what is believed to be her body from the wreckage of a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily. Hannah was the last person unaccounted for after the luxury yacht Bayesian foundered during a freak storm near the Italian fishing village of Porticello, east of Palermo. The disaster claimed seven lives in total.
Friends have described Hannah as a “warm and beautiful soul,” while her teachers praised her as having “sky-high intellectual ability.” Hannah had recently finished her A-levels and had been offered a place to study English at the University of Oxford, according to The Times.
The body of her father, Mike Lynch, a prominent tech entrepreneur often referred to as the “UK’s greatest tech entrepreneur,” was recovered from the wreckage earlier this week. The family released a photo of Mike and Hannah on Friday, as tributes continue to pour in for both.
The Bayesian disaster claimed the lives of several others, including Morgan Stanley International Bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda Morvillo, and the yacht’s chef Recaldo Thomas. However, 15 people, including a one-year-old child and Hannah’s mother, Angela Bacares, managed to survive the tragedy.
Rescuers described the search and recovery operation as “complex,” with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts due to the challenging conditions. Despite the difficulties, the recovery mission continued for days, culminating in the discovery of Hannah’s body.
A large coastguard vessel that had been stationed at the site of the wreck for hours was seen docking back in port after the final body was found. A helicopter landed nearby as divers returned to the quayside, removing their orange suits after completing the operation.
While the recovery of the Bayesian has brought some closure to the tragedy, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the disaster. Experts have suggested that the yacht’s crew may have had no warning about the freak storm that caused the ship to founder.
The Italian Coastguard has stated that a decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed is “not on the agenda” at this time, though it may be considered in the future. Divers have reported that the ship remains “practically intact” on the seabed.
Hannah’s former school, Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, London, expressed their deep shock at the news. “We are all incredibly shocked by the news,” said a spokesperson. “Our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved.”
As the recovery operation comes to a close, tributes continue to flood in for Hannah, her father Mike Lynch, and the other victims of the tragic accident.
