August 23, 2024

Staff and pupils at Latymer Upper School have been paying tribute to Hannah Lynch who died earlier this week.

The 18-year-old was on holiday in Sicily after she had just heard that she had secured a place at the University of Oxford having recently got her A Level results.

Her father’s yacht, the Bayesian, is understood to have been at anchor when it was hit by a freak weather and Hannah was one of seven people who drowned including her father the tech investor Mike Lynch as well as the chairman of Morgan Stanley Internation, Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda. Hannah’s body was the last to be recovered from the wreckage of the yacht at the fishing village of Porticello, east of Palermo which sank at 5am on Monday morning (19 August).

Hannah’s mother, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 survivors who were rescued from a life boat by the Italian Coast Guard.

Hannah was described by the school as an exceptionally gifted pupil who won a prize for English while she was in Year 10. Her friends at the school have spoken of her as a ‘supernova’ who was a staunch feminist.

A spokesperson for Latymer Upper School said before her death was confirmed, "We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates."

A spokesperson for the 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.”

Mr Lynch had been joined by family and friends on holiday to celebrate his acquittal in a fraud trial.

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