Hannah Lynch’s physique ‘was discovered on her personal in yacht cabin’

Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was found dead in her own cabin 50 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean after the yacht she was on sank, rescue workers have said.

Five others, including her father, were found in a separate compartment on the Bayesian superyacht, reporters were told in Termini Imerese on Saturday morning. 

During a press conference held in Termini Imerese on Saturday morning, prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed a question of ‘homicide’ had been hypothesised following initial investigations into the sinking on Monday August 19.

However, he stressed to reporters that inquiries remained at an early stage.

On Friday, Hannah became the final missing passenger to be recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht after it sank, killing seven.

Mr Cartosio told reporters that Italian civil codes had prevented him from releasing more information about the search while it took place, highlighting that he personally believed it created ‘notable obstacles’ to transparency with the public.

The Bayesian sank in the early hours of Monday, with the emergency services alerted shortly after 4.30am. Mr Cartosio added that it quickly became apparent it would be ‘impossible’ to save those who were trapped in the yacht as it sank to the sea bed.

He told reporters: ‘I would like to officially communicate to you that the prosecutor of Termini Imerese has hypothesised that there could be in fact a question of homicide but this is just the beginning of an inquiry. 

‘Generally a prosecutor is never satisfied to give this information at this stage, precisely because developments could change. 

‘We cannot exclude anything at all but what, there has been a lot of media interest with regards to the people were involved. But at the same time I believe it is right to anticipate developments of this inquiry can be very variable.’ 

The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed ‘unsinkable’ by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

A total of 27 divers, including 11 cave experts and eight deep sea divers, were called in to aid with the search across 72 total hours of searching underwater across 123 dives. 

Hannah and her father Mike Lynch, alongside Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were lost when the yacht sank at around 5am local time on Monday.

In a statement, the family of Mr Lynch and Hannah 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.’

The Lynch family also issued a photograph of Mr Lynch and Hannah alongside their tribute.

Hannah’s sister Esme paid her own tribute, saying: ‘Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.

‘Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice.

‘No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

‘She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.

‘And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.

‘She is my little angel, my star.’

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah was not ‘easy or quick’, comparing the sunken yacht to an ’18-storey building full of water’.

The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought to shore in the small fishing village of Porticello, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

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

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch’s acquittal in a fraud case in the US.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

This is a developing story – more to follow.