Hannah Lynch's sister pays tribute to 'little angel' after 18-year-old recovered from sunken yacht

Tributes have been paid after the final body, believed to be Hannah Lynch, was found, ITV News Correspondent Stacey Foster reports

The sister of Hannah Lynch, who died when a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, has paid tribute to her younger sibling calling her an "endlessly caring little angel".

On Friday, Hannah became the seventh missing passenger to be recovered after the boat sank earlier this week. Her father, tech tycoon Mike Lynch, was also confirmed dead.

It comes as unconfirmed reports in the Italian media have said that prosecutors are poised to announce a manslaughter investigation into the incident.

In a tribute to her sister, Esme said: "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.”

The Lynch family said they were "devastated" and "in shock" over the deaths of Mike and Hannah in a statement.

Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda Morvillo and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas were also confirmed to have died after the sinking.

In a statement, Mike and Hannah's 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."

A Family friend, Albert Read, paid tribute to Mike Lynch, he said he "never met anyone like Mike".

"A searing intellect, a steel that would transform the world around him (Mike)," he said.

“An instinct for family and friends – organising children’s treasure hunts, big gatherings of neighbours in Suffolk – and, with Angela, a determination to light up 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 brain.”

A spokesperson for the coastguard said the search for Ms Lynch had not been "easy or quick", comparing the sunken Bayesian yacht to an "18-storey building full of water".

The Bayesian sank near to the small fishing village of Porticello, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Its wreckage is now resting on the seabed at a depth of 50 metres (164ft).

A decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed is "not on the agenda", but will be in the future, a spokesman from the coastguard has said.

The chief executive of legal AI company Luminance, which was founded by Mr Lynch, was among those who paid tribute to the technology tycoon, saying he was a "visionary unlike any other".

Eleanor Lightbody said in a statement: "He had a unique ability to spot the next technological revolution and solve tomorrow's challenges before others even knew they were coming.

"Above all, Mike was a kind man who had an impact on many and will be sorely missed. I feel honoured to have known him, worked with him and learnt from him over the years.

"The UK has lost someone with the means, authority, knowledge and drive to propel the UK into technological leadership, but his legacy will live on in all of the extraordinary businesses he built and mentored, as well as his family who are in my thoughts."

A former teacher of Ms Lynch's, meanwhile, said she would be remembered for her "kindness, compassion and commitment".

Jon Mitropoulos-Monk, head of English at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, said: "I've never taught someone who combined sky-high intellectual ability with warmth and enthusiasm in the way Hannah did."

In a statement confirming their parents' deaths, the Bloomer family described the couple as "incredible people and an inspiration to many".

They said: "We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy.

"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.

"This is an unimaginable grief to shoulder."

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 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 (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

A helicopter was previously drafted in to help the search effort, and divers from the local fire service have been seen entering the water with torches attached to their headgear.

Fire crews from the Vigili del Fuoco said they had been accessing the vessel through natural entrances, without making openings.

Remotely controlled underwater vehicles have been used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search, the Italian Coastguard has said.

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