Family GuideTributes have been paid to Hannah Lynch, 18, after divers found what is believed to be her body in the wreckage of a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily.
Hannah is the last person missing after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a freak storm off the Italian fishing village of Porticello, east of Palermo, claiming the lives of a total of seven people.
Friends described her as having a “warm and beautiful soul”, while teachers praised her for having “superb intellectual abilities”.
The body of her father, tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was found in the shipwreck earlier this week.
The family released a photo of the two on Friday.
“The Lynch family is deeply saddened and shocked and are being comforted and supported by family and friends,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“They would like to express their condolences to all those affected by this tragedy. They would like to express their sincere thanks to the Italian coast guard, the emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue operation.”
“Their only request now is that their privacy is respected at this time of indescribable grief.”
“Mike was the smartest and most thoughtful person I have ever known,” said close friend Andrew Kanter. “His passion for life, knowledge and all those around him was instantly inspiring to everyone he met, and he will be sorely missed.”
The Italian coast guard issued a statement saying the rescue operation ended with Hannah Lynch rescued, adding that a total of seven people were confirmed dead.
Survivors include a one year old child and Hannah’s mother, Angela Bacares.
Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda Morvillo and the ship’s chef Recaldo Thomas all died in the disaster.
Italian authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Monday’s incident.
In cases like this, officials often conduct a broad investigation — known as a “crime presumption” — to consider a range of possible criminal charges.
When contacted by BBC News, Italian police confirmed an investigation was underway but no charges had yet been laid.
Rescuers described the search operation, starting on Monday, as “complicated”, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.
After reports that the last body had been found, a coast guard vessel that had been at the scene of the shipwreck for hours could be seen returning to port.
Meanwhile, a helicopter landed nearby as divers stripped off their orange suits on the dock.
A spokesman for the Italian Coast Guard said a decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed was “not on the agenda” but would be taken in the future.
According to divers in the search and rescue team, the ship is “almost intact” on the seabed.
Media PAOn Friday morning, a flag outside Hannah Lynch’s school in Hammersmith, west London, was flown at half-mast to commemorate her death.
According to the Times, she has just completed her A-levels and has been accepted to study English at Oxford University.
“We are all deeply shocked by this news,” a spokesman for Latymer High School said.
“We send our condolences to their families and everyone involved,” they added.
Gracie Lea, a classmate of Hannah’s, described her as “lovely: sincere, dedicated, incredibly intelligent and genuinely kind. I will always remember her smile”.
