The family of British billionaire Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah have released a statement after the final bodies were recovered from a yacht that sunk off the coast of Sicily with them on board.
Authorities confirmed that six bodies, including that of Mike Lynch, had now been recovered from the sunken wreck meaning that all who were on the yacht have now been accounted for.
The final body recovered is thought to have been that of Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah.
A spokesperson 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.”
Lynch, who was the co-founder of software firm Autonomy Corporation, was onboard a yacht named Bayesian off the Sicilian coast when it capsized in the early hours of Monday (19 August) morning.
There were a total of 22 people on board the yacht, 15 were rescued after making it onto a lifeboat and the body of chef Recaldo Thomas was found at the scene.
Rescue efforts soon knew that six people were missing and have spent the week making efforts to find them.
Lynch, his daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were named as the missing six.
Over the course of the week diving efforts were made to reach the yacht and recover the bodies. Hannah was the last of those missing to be found.
All six of the bodies have been brought to the Sicilian town of Porticello, and Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard said that searching the sunken superyacht had not been 'easy or quick'.
He said it had been like navigating an '18-storey building full of water'.
The boat trip had been intended as a celebration of Lynch's recent acquittal in a fraud case in the US.
The 59-year-old had been cleared in June of allegations of fraud involved in the multi-billion dollar sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett Packard.
The family of Jonathan and Judy Bloomer have also released a statement on the loss of their loved ones.
They said: "Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren.
“Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.”
Featured Image Credit: PA/PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICETopics: UK News, World News, Bayesian yacht
Joe Harker