Body of Mike Lynch's daughter found as 'manslaughter probe launched' into yacht sinking

Hannah Lynch, 18, was the final person missing from the sinking of the Bayesian off Sicily

Hannah and Mike Lynch, who both died after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm on Monday. PA

The body of British tech billionaire Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was recovered by divers on Friday, as reports suggest a manslaughter investigation has been launched into the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht.

She was the last person missing after the vessel sank off Sicily on Monday during a thunderstorm. Seven people died.

The body of the yacht’s chef Ricardo Thomas was found on Monday and rescuers have since recovered the remains of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah, who had recently finished her A-levels and was due to study at the University of Oxford, had not been “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey building full of water”.

A representative for the Lynch 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.”

In a statement to The National, Su Wijeratna, head teacher at Hannah's former school, Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, said she was a "remarkable young woman and a gifted student who was deeply loved" by everyone.

Jon Mitropoulos-Monk, head of English at the school, said Hannah lit up the classroom with her "energy, passion for learning and sheer intelligence".

"One of the best English students in the country, she scored 100 per cent in her English literature GCSE. By age 16, she’d read Joyce, Faulkner and Nabokov."

He added: "When she got her place [at Oxford], she sought out every single member of the Latymer Upper English department to thank them individually and give them a hug.

"She achieved everything she did with extraordinary levels of grace and fortitude that few others can say they possess. I taught Hannah for four years. I will remember her for what she taught me: kindness, compassion and commitment.”

Her friend Katya Lewis also paid tribute, saying: “Being with Hannah made me feel whole and happy. She is the most special friend anyone could ask for and I will always love Hannah.”

Investigation

Italian prosecutors are looking into offences of “shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable homicide against an unknown person” – charges that carry a prison sentence of up to 12 years.

Italian news agency Adnkronos said investigators are working on a theory involving a possible "chain of human errors".

Naval marine experts are baffled how a boat such as the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini Navi to withstand a hurricane, sank.

The yacht's captain, James Cutfield, and his eight surviving crew members have been questioned by police, but made no public comment on the disaster. Witnesses and other survivors have also been questioned.

Investigating prosecutors are due to hold a press conference on Saturday.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 – including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares – were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.

Giovanni Costantino, chief executive of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini Navi, said the shipwreck was the result of a string of “indescribable, unreasonable errors” made by the crew, and ruled out any design or construction failings.

Mr Zagarola previously said a decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht is “not on the agenda”, but would be in the future.

Pulling the wreck off the seabed, where it is now lying on its right side, apparently intact, may help investigators determine what happened, but the operation is likely to be complex and costly.

Divers search sunken superyacht Bayesian - in pictures

Nick Sloane, a South African engineer who led the operation to salvage the Costa Concordia cruise liner that sank in 2012, said in Italian media interviews on Friday that the operation would cost up to €15 million ($16.7 million).

He told daily newspaper La Repubblica that salvaging the yacht would take six to eight weeks, including preparation work, and would have to be completed by mid-October, without specifying the reasons for the timing.

Bringing the yacht to the surface will have to be done “very, very slowly”, and might take a couple of days, he said.