Bayesian yacht sinking latest: Mike Lynch cause of death revealed at inquest as daughter’s under investigation

Captain of nearby boat recalls seeing ‘big, black triangle’ going down in lightning

Captain of neighbouring ship describes moment Bayesian sank

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s provisional cause of death has been given as drowning, while the results of his 18-year-old daughter Hannah’s post-mortem remains “under investigation”.

The inquests into the deaths of Dr Lynch, his daughter and two friends has opened this morning, over a month after their tragic deaths when the tycoon’s superyacht Bayesian sank on 19 August.

In a brief hearing, Suffolk Coroner’s Court heard that Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his 71-year-old wife Judy Bloomer’s causes of death were also still being investigated.

The inquests were adjourned until 15 April for further information to be provided.

They were among seven people who died in the freak storm off the coast of the Italian island, with 15 other crew members and guests rescued.

In a new ITV documentary, a photograph of the Bayesian, which was taken by a passenger onboard a neighbouring yacht 14 minutes before the disaster, was revealed.

It appears to show a door in the superyacht’s hull was closed, contradicting allegations crew mistakenly left it open and enabled water to flood the 56-metre yacht.

Key Points

• Hannah Lynch death remains ‘under investigation’
• British tech tycoon’s provisional cause of death given as ‘drowning'
• Captain of ship near Bayesian describes terrifying moment boat sunk
• Rescue diver discloses why Hannah Lynch’s body was found last
• Chilling final picture of Bayesian superyacht reveals key clues

[4 October 2024 10:31 · Holly Evans]

Jonathan and Judy Bloomer’s deaths ‘under investigation’

Morgan Stanley international chairman Jonathan Bloomer’s cause of death remains under investigation, along with his wife Judith.

The married couple were recovered from the sunken Bayesian on 21 August.

Senior Coroner Nigel Parsley told the short hearing he would adjourn the inquests until 15 April, 2024.

Judy and Jonathan Bloomer, who were among the seven people who died in the sinking of the luxury yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily (Family Handout/PA) (PA Media)

[4 October 2024 10:28 · Holly Evans]

British tech tycoon’s provisional cause of death given as ‘drowning'

In a brief inquest opening, Suffolk Police’s Mike Brown said that an initial post-mortem into the death of British tycoon Mike Lynch had given his provisional cause of death as “drowning”.

His body was recovered from the sunken Bayesian yacht on 22 August and was identified by a member of the boat’s crew.

An investigation has been launched by the Maritime Accident Investigations branch and a separate criminal investigation has been opened by the Italian authorities.

Mike Lynch’s body was recovered on the 22 August (PA Wire)

[4 October 2024 10:22 · Holly Evans]

Hannah Lynch death remains ‘under investigation’

An inquest opening at Suffolk Coroners Court into the death of 18-year-old Hannah Lynch heard that her cause of death remains “under investigation”.

Detective superintendent Mike Brown of Suffolk Police told the court: “In the earlyhours on the 19th of August between 4:15am and 4:45am, the yacht Bayesian, occupied by 22 people including 10 crew members and 12 guests, flying the British flag, and located 0.8 miles nautical miles from the coast of Porticello, for reasons yet to be ascertained sank rapidly.

“Of the total occupants, 15 were rescued while seven were reported missing. The search began in the following hours and continued uninterrupted for the following days.”

He added that the talented west London student had been discovered on 23 August and identified by a crew member of the Bayesian. A post-mortem examination has been carried out by Italian authorities, with the provisional cause of death under investigation.

Her full inquest is scheduled to take place on 15 April.

Hannah Lynch, aged 18, was set to go to Oxford University following the trip on the luxury yacht Bayesian (Family Handout/PA Wire)

[4 October 2024 09:07 · Holly Evans]

Diver reveals Hannah Lynch was hardest to find on sunken yacht

A rescue diver who took part in the search for the Bayesian victims has said that it took longer to find Mike Lynch’s daughter Hannah, due to her “petite size”.

Speaking on a new ITV documentary, he said: “Because the girl was small, petite, her body was hidden behind mattresses, so it took longer to find her.”

He added that discovering the 18-year-old had been particularly devastating for those involved, given her young age.

“When you are recovering a child or a young person it does affect you more than an adult,” he said.

Hannah Lynch, daughter of Mike Lynch, was among those who died (Family Handout/PA) (PA Media)

[4 October 2024 08:24 · Holly Evans]

Inquests to be held in Suffolk

The inquests of tech tycoon Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch, 18, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his 71-year-old wife Judy Bloomer, are due to be opened today in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Coroner’s service listings indicate that Dr Lynch and his daughter both lived in London, while the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent, and all four died on August 19.

Suffolk’s senior coroner Nigel Parsley is due to preside over Friday’s hearings.

[4 October 2024 07:00 · Tara Cobham]

Inquests into deaths of Mike Lynch, daughter Hannah and Bloomers open today

The inquests into the deaths of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59 and his 18-year-old daughter are set to open at Suffolk Coroner’s Court today.

The inquests into the deaths of Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his 71-year-old wife Judy Bloomer are also due to open at the court in Ipswich at 10am.

The inquests into the deaths of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59 and his 18-year-old daughter are set to open at Suffolk Coroner’s Court today (Tancredi)

The inquests into the deaths of Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his 71-year-old wife Judy Bloomer are also due to open at the court in Ipswich at 10am (Family Handout/PA)

[4 October 2024 05:00 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: Haunting final moments of Bayesian ship revealed

[4 October 2024 02:00 · Tara Cobham]

Recap: Mike Lynch ‘likely died of suffocation’ after running out of oxygen on sunken yacht

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is likely to have died of suffocation after running out of oxygen, according to a source close to the investigation.

They cited initial examinations carried out in September after the businessman’s body was recovered from the family yacht that sank off Sicily’s coast the previous month during a freak weather incident.

Mr Lynch died alongside his 18-year-old daughter, the boat’s chef and four others, who were onboard the British-flagged superyacht Bayesian to celebrate his recent acquittal after a lengthy decade-long legal battle.

The inquests into his death and three others’ opens on Friday.

My colleague Holly Evans reported:

[4 October 2024 00:00 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: Captain of neighbouring ship describes moment Bayesian sank

[3 October 2024 23:00 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: Moment Bayesian yacht launched distress signal caught on CCTV