Reuters could not independently verify the decision.
This latest incident comes after a manslaughter investigation was opened into the deaths of seven people when a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, including British technology magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, said Ambrogio Cartosio, prosecutor of Termini Imerese.
The Sicilian prosecutor explained the order in which the bodies of six people missing since the yacht sank were recovered, describing the incident as a “very serious tragedy”.
The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing ship that was classified as “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, the Italian shipyard Perini Navi, could sink while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.
At a press conference on Saturday, prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said (BBC translation): “These six people who were desperately trying to save themselves were finally rescued.”
“First of all, four of them. Jonathan Bloomer, the banker, and Christopher Morvillo, the lawyer. All four were rescued from the interior of the yacht, which was lying 50 meters deep.
“Later the other two were also recovered.
“Michael Lynch on the 23rd, yesterday, and then yesterday morning Michael Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was found.
“This is a very serious tragedy and in order to contain its extent we have asked for the cooperation of the firefighters and firefighting divers who have shown incredible courage and skill, completed a really difficult mission and enabled us to thoroughly search the wreckage for bodies.”
On Friday, 18-year-old Hannah Lynch was the last missing passenger to be recovered from the wreck of the Bayesian superyacht.
Investigators from the Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office announced a press conference to announce the first results of their criminal investigation, which was launched immediately after the tragedy, although no official suspects have yet been publicly identified.
In a statement, Mr Lynch and Hannah’s family said: “The Lynch family are devastated, in shock and are receiving comfort and support from family and friends.
“Their thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy.
“They would like to sincerely thank the Italian Coast Guard, the emergency services and everyone who helped in the rescue.
“Her only request now is that her privacy be respected during this time of unspeakable grief.”
In addition to their tribute, the Lynch family also released a photo of Mr. Lynch and Hannah.
Hannah’s sister Esme paid tribute to her, saying: ‘Hannah would often burst into my bedroom and lie down with me.
“Sometimes radiant, sometimes cheeky, sometimes seeking advice.
“No matter what happened, she showed me boundless love.
Rescue workers with a body bag containing the remains of tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who was born in Britain to Irish parents, in the port of Porticello. Photo: Reuters
“She was infinitely caring, passionately crazy, unintentionally funny and to me the most amazing, supportive and cheerful sister and best friend.
“And beyond that, she had even more love to give endlessly to her friends and passion to put into her incredible studies and goals.
“She is my little angel, my star.”
Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coast Guard said the search for Hannah had been neither “easy nor quick” and compared the sunken yacht to an “18-story building full of water.”
The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought ashore to the small fishing village of Porticello, about 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.
Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, were able to escape into a lifeboat.
The body of Canadian-Antiguan citizen Recaldo Thomas, who worked as a cook on the superyacht, was recovered from the scene of the sinking on Monday.
The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch’s acquittal in a fraud trial in the United States.
The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was acquitted in June of massive fraud charges related to the $11 billion (£8.64 billion) sale of the company to US firm Hewlett Packard.
