British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch found in Sicily yacht wreckage

LONDON — The body of British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch, 59, has been retrieved from the wreckage of a yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC on Thursday, confirming earlier reporting by Sky News.

Lynch’s daughter, Hannah, remains unaccounted for, according to the source, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the situation. Sky News earlier reported that five bodies pulled from the wreck had been identified by the Italian coast guard, and that Lynch was among the dead.

Lynch, who was reported missing Monday, was one of 22 passengers aboard the Bayesian superyacht, which capsized while anchored in the small fishing village of Porticello, in the province of Palermo in Italy.

On Wednesday, Salvatore Cocina, head of the civil protection agency in Sicily, confirmed to NBC News that five bodies had been recovered from the wreckage of the yacht. The only person confirmed dead by authorities so far has been Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef.

CNBC has contacted the Italian coast guard and is awaiting a response.

Lynch was founder of enterprise software firm Autonomy. He became the target of a protracted legal battle with Hewlett Packard after the firm accused Lynch of inflating Autonomy’s value in an $11.7 billion sale. HP took an $8.8 billion write-down on the value of the company within a year of buying it.

Lynch was acquitted in June of fraud charges in a surprise victory in U.S. court following a trial that lasted for three months. He had faced charges of wire fraud and conspiracy for allegedly scheming to inflate Autonomy’s revenue. Lynch denied wrongdoing and told jurors HP botched Autonomy’s integration.

Lynch was also founder of Invoke Capital, a venture capital firm endorsing European tech startups. He became a key voice supporting the U.K. technology industry, backing key names like cybersecurity firm Darktrace and legal tech firm Luminance.

Tributes were paid to Lynch following news of his death.

Russ Shaw, founder of technology industry groups Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, said Lynch “leaves a legacy as one of the great modern British tech entrepreneurs.”

“His ability to understand how tech can solve big challenges, and then successfully commercialise it was truly unique” Shaw said in a statement emailed to CNBC. “Mike will rightly be remembered for his work in nurturing some of Britain’s great tech companies, including Darktrace, Luminance and Sophia Genetics.”

The Royal Academy of Engineering, which made Lynch a fellow in 2008, said its trustee board, fellows and staff are “deeply saddened” to learn of his death and “send our profound condolences to his family.”

“We have fond memories of the active role he played [as a fellow] in the past, as a mentor, donor and former Council member. He was also one of the inaugural members on the Enterprise Committee,” the academy said on the social media platform X. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Lord John Browne, former CEO of energy firm BP, said in a post on X that Lynch “should be remembered as the person who catalysed a breed of deep tech entrepreneurs in the U.K. His ideas and his personal vision were a powerful contribution to science and technology in both Britain and globally.”