The family of tech magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah have said they are devastated and in shock following their deaths, and those of five other people, after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday.
Mr Lynch and Hannah, along with Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo were lost when the yacht sank at around 5am local time on Monday.
The bodies of the Bloomers and Morvillos were recovered on Wednesday and Mr Lynch's body was recovered yesterday and brought to shore at Porticello, around 18km from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.
The body of Hannah Lynch was recovered from the yacht earlier today.
The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht Bayesian, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.
Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 - including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares - were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.
This afternoon, 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."
The 56-metre sailing boat had been anchored some 700 metres off Porticello when it was struck by a waterspout - akin to a mini-tornado. It sank within minutes.
'Unimaginable grief'
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."
The chief executive of legal AI company Luminance, which was founded by Mr Lynch, paid tribute to the technology tycoon, saying he was a "visionary unlike any other".
Eleanor Lightbody said in a statement: "I am devastated to hear the news about our founding investor, Mike Lynch, and all of those involved in this tragic accident.
"Mike was a visionary unlike any other. 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.
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 Italian Coastguard has said.
Vincenzo Zagarola said: "This is not a topic on the agenda. It will be, but not now."
The luxury yacht's captain, James Cutfield, was reportedly questioned by authorities for two hours as they began speaking to all crew members.
'Errors'
The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50m.
Many questions remain about why the yacht sank, and yesterday the head of the company which built the boat said the tragedy could have been avoided.
"Everything that was done reveals a very long summation of errors," said Giovanni Costantino, head of the Italian Sea Group, which includes the Perini Navi company that built Bayesian in 2008.
He told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that bad weather was forecast and all the passengers should have been gathered at a pre-arranged assembly point, with all the doors and hatches closed.
Security camera footage of the ship from the shore showed the lights on its mast going out, which Mr Costantino said indicated a short circuit, meaning that the ship had already taken on water.
"A Perini ship resisted Hurricane Katrina, a category 5 (hurricane). Does it seem to you that it can't resist a tornado from here?" he told the newspaper.
