Family of grandparents who died in superyacht tragedy pay tribute

The family of Jonathan and Judy Bloomer have described them as “incredible people and an inspiration to many” following their deaths in the sinking of a luxury yacht in Sicily.

The Morgan Stanley International bank chairman, 70, and his wife were confirmed dead after five bodies were found by divers on Wednesday – taking the number of confirmed dead to six.

“We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the emergency services and everyone who helped tirelessly in this rescue operation,” the family said in a statement on Thursday.

Superyacht sinks latest: Five bodies identified

“Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren. Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.

“This is an unimaginable grief to shoulder. Our only ask is that our family’s privacy is respected at this time.”

‘Friend and mentor to many’

Ted Pick, chef executive of Morgan Stanley also paid tribute to Mr Bloomer and sent his “deepest condolences” to all those affected by the tragedy.

“Jonathan’s leadership and experience helped the firm manage a period of complex change for our international businesses,” Mr Pick said.

“He has been a friend and mentor to many and we will all greatly miss his wise counsel and spirit of kindness.”

Investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown – where Mr Bloomer was a former board director – described him as a “giant in financial services”.

While Aki Hussain, chief executive of insurance group Hiscox – where Mr Bloomer served as chair – added: “It was a privilege to have known Jonathan and to have benefited from his generosity and wisdom over the last year in his role as chair of Hiscox.

“His deep experience across our industry and in the broader business arena, combined with his personal values, made him both an excellent chair and a person I was proud to know and work with.

“His advice and support were immensely valuable to me, and he will be dearly missed.”

The yacht – known as the Bayesian – sank early Monday morning after a storm hit the region.

The wreckage is now on the seabed at a depth of around 50m (164ft) off Porticello near Palermo, where it had been anchored.

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British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch was also among the dead, but his 18-year-old daughter Hannah remains missing.

Twenty-two people were on board the vessel, 15 of whom were rescued – including Mr Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares and Briton Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter Sofia.

Speaking to Sky News, one of Mr Lynch’s neighbours has described him as “generous, humble and full of integrity”.

Ruth Leigh lived next door to the 59-year-old and his wife in Suffolk for 15 years.

She described them as “fantastic neighbours” and said the tech tycoon “never played on his position” and was “very friendly and down-to-earth” despite his fortune.