Mike Lynch’s Yacht Sinking Latest: A Tribute to ‘Caring, Passionately Crazy, Unintentionally Funny’ Sister Hannah

A family friend praised Mike Lynch as “warm, funny, smart, loyal, exceptionally brave, and with a heart as big as his mind.”

“I have never met anyone like Mike,” Albert Reid said Friday. “A brilliant mind, a force to change the world around him, an instinct for family and friends — organizing treasure hunts for children, big gatherings of neighbors in Suffolk — and, with Angela, a determination to illuminate the worlds of art and science for his two beloved daughters.”

“Warm, funny, brilliant, loyal and exceptionally brave, with a heart as big as his mind.”

The 18-year-old daughter of British tech mogul Mike Lynch has been honoured after her body was recovered from the sunken Bayesian yacht.

Unconfirmed reports in Italian media said prosecutors were preparing to announce an investigation into manslaughter in the incident, which killed a total of seven people and saw 15 others rescued from a lifeboat.

my colleague Holly Evans Reports:

Esme Lynch has praised her younger sister Hannah, calling her “my little angel and my star.”

On Friday afternoons, Esme said, “Hannah would come into my room a lot and lie down next to me. Sometimes she would smile a big smile, sometimes she would be rude, sometimes she would ask for advice.

“No matter what, she brought me boundless love. She was endlessly caring, passionately crazy, unintentionally funny, and the most wonderful, supportive, cheerful sister and best friend to me.

“Above all, she had endless love to give to all her friends and passion to give to her studies and her wonderful goals.

“She’s my little angel, my star.”

With the rescue operation over, attention turned to the official investigation into the disaster.

The Termini Imerese prosecutor’s office, headed by Ambrogio Cartosio, is looking into possible charges of negligence in the shipwreck and multiple homicide, judicial sources told Reuters.

Captain James Cutfield and other survivors have been questioned by the Coast Guard on behalf of prosecutors. None have commented publicly on how the ship sank.

No one has yet been formally investigated.

Cartosio is scheduled to hold a press conference on Saturday.

A close friend of Mike Lynch’s praised him as “the most brilliant mind and the most caring person I have ever known.”

“Mike was the most brilliant mind and the most caring person I have ever known,” said Andrew Kanter, who was also a colleague of the British tech mogul.

“For almost a quarter of a century, I have had the privilege of working alongside someone whose understanding of technology and business is unparalleled. There is simply no other UK technology entrepreneur of our generation who has had such an impact on so many people.

“His passion for life, knowledge and everything around him was an instant inspiration to everyone who met him, and he will be sorely missed.”

“We owe him a lot,” said co-founder Mike Lynch, CEO of the company.

“Without Mike, Darktrace would not exist,” said Bobbi Gustafson, CEO of cybersecurity company Darktrace. “We owe him a lot.”

“Mike was so focused on everything he did,” she continued. “He was a duality: there was no half of Mike. His intelligence was to me what a galaxy was to a planet. It was intimidating.”

“I am grateful to Mike for his support of me and Darktrace, which has continued long after his involvement. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy with us, but also with the wider UK tech ecosystem.”

Two friends expressed their appreciation for their “honest, loyal and really kind” friend.

Hannah Lynch’s life ended early when her yacht, the Baysea, sank when she was just 18 years old while on holiday with her father, Mike Lynch.

“When I think of Hannah, I think of hair, sunshine and her beautiful eyes,” said Gracie Lea, who went to Latimer School with her. “She was easy to love: loyal, devoted, very intelligent and really kind. I will always remember her smile.”

Another friend, Katya Lewis, said:: “Hannah’s love for everything she held dear was passionate and pure. She had such a warm and beautiful soul. Being with Hannah made me feel so fulfilled and happy. She is the most special friend anyone could ask for, and I will always love Hannah.”

The company that operates the ship “Bayzian” expressed its “deepest sympathy” to the loved ones of those who died during the sinking and confirmed “with deep regret” that the bodies had been found.

She added that this will be the company’s last public statement on these events as it allows investigators to “better understand what happened on that tragic night.”

A full statement read: “Camper & Nicholsons, the managers of the sailing yacht Bayzian, are deeply saddened to confirm that the remains of all six missing individuals have been found following the sinking of the vessel.

The SY Bayesian encountered severe weather conditions and tragically sank off Porticello, Italy, at approximately 04:30 local time on Monday, August 19, 2024, with 22 people on board.

“15 individuals were safely rescued shortly after thanks to the tireless efforts of the Italian Coast Guard, the Foco Guard, the Navy, the Carabinieri, as well as nearby seafarers and other public agencies. We thank all those who have worked tirelessly in search and rescue operations over the past week.

“Those on board were dear colleagues, friends and customers. We extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones during this extremely difficult time.

“Our focus remains on fully cooperating with the authorities and providing unwavering support to the families affected by this tragic loss. Since 2014, the SY Bayesian has been privately owned and has not been available for charter during this period.

“While we allow investigators to better understand what happened on that tragic night, this will be the final public statement on these events from Camper & Nicholsons.”

The Coast Guard said all 22 people on board Mike Lynch’s luxury yacht have now been accounted for, and that the search and rescue operation is officially over.

When the last search vessel returned to the dock, “it was clear they had found the last body,” Sky News correspondent Ashna Horinaj said.

“An honor guard began to assemble on the port side,” she wrote, with a poignant image showing coast guard personnel, search and rescue teams and police officers standing side by side as the ship approached.

Lynch family friend and colleague, Sushovan Hussain, said he and his wife were “deeply saddened by the loss of so many of our dear friends.”

Mr Hussein said he had known Mike since school and Hannah since she was born. He added that taking her “on the brink of death was unbelievably cruel”.

He said he was also friends with Mike Lynch’s co-defendant, Stephen (whom he called Steve) Chamberlain, who died after being hit by a car two days before the yacht tragedy.

He was also friends with bank president Jonathan Plumer and his wife Judy Plumer, and attorney Chris Morvillo and his wife Nida Morvillo, who also died when the boat sank.

His full statement read: “My wife and I are completely devastated by the passing of so many dear friends. There are no words that can express our grief. I have known Mike for over 40 years, since our school days, and during most of that time our lives were closely linked.

“I was overjoyed when he was acquitted, and now his passing has left a void in my life that can never be filled. We have known Hannah since she was born, and to see her go on the brink of collapse is so heartbreaking. Our hearts bleed for Angela and her remaining daughter. Steve has been by my side for so many years, and I have been honored to call him, Jonathan, Jodi and Chris, my good friends. It is truly impossible to comprehend how they could all be gone in such a short period of time. It is beyond words.”