British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer are among the presumed dead after a luxury superyacht, the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Italy. The tragic incident also claimed the lives of four others who were aboard the vessel.
The yacht, which was British-flagged and measured 184 feet, was moored about a half-mile offshore when a storm hit early Monday morning. Italian coast guard officials reported that a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout, struck the ship, causing it to sink rapidly.
Among the missing individuals are Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Bloomer's wife Neda, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Judy. The group was celebrating Lynch's recent acquittal in a U.S. federal trial related to his company, Autonomy Corp.
There were a total of 22 people on board the yacht, including crew members and passengers from the UK, the US, and Canada. Tragically, only one body has been recovered so far, identified as onboard chef Ricardo Thomas. Fifteen individuals were rescued, including a 1-year-old girl.
The Bayesian was owned by Lynch's wife, who survived the disaster. The loss of Lynch, Bloomer, and the others has sent shockwaves through the tech and financial communities, where they were highly respected figures.
