HANNAH Lynch’s heartbroken sister Esme has paid tribute to her “best friend” after the teen died in the the yacht disaster.
The 18-year-old student perished alongside her tech tycoon dad Mike Lynch, 59, in the Bayesian sinking.
Divers, aided by hi-tech underwater drones, will continue scouring the yacht wreckage before it is raised from the seabed off the coast of Sicily.
The 184ft luxury sailboat – owned by tech tycoon Mr Lynch – was sunk in a fierce storm in the early hours of Monday, with 22 people on board.
Questions continue to be raised about the lead up to the tragedy, which saw seven people die, including Mr Lynch, 59, and Hannah.
Others to perish included Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo.
Yacht chef Recaldo Thomas also died, with his body pulled from the open water near the wreckage site soon after the search began.
Italian authorities are investigating offences of shipwreck and multiple culpable homicide – similar to the charge of manslaughter in the UK – against unknown persons, according to Italian media.
It comes as…
Devastated Esme Lynch said: “Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.
“Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice.
“No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.
“She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.
“And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.
“She is my little angel, my star.”
It comes after Hannah’s family released new pictures of the teen and dad Mike, while further tributes were paid by her friends.
Hannah was an outstanding student at Latymer Upper School in West London – regularly winning academic prizes.
She had just won a place at the University of Oxford to study English after just receiving her A-level results last Thursday.
The teen had scored 100% on her English Literature GCSE.
And meanwhile, Mr Lynch was one of the UK’s top tech tycoons – being known as the UK’s “Bill Gates”.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Lynches 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’s wife Angela Bacares managed to escape the wreck and has reportedly be left in a “state of shock”.
She had to walk on glass to escape after being awoken by the ship “tilting” before her and 14 other survivors piled onto a lifeboat.
Hannah’s friend Katya Lewis said: “The love Hannah had for everything she held dear was passionate and pure.
“She had a warm and beautiful soul. Being with Hannah made me feel whole and happy.
“She is the most special friend anyone could ask for and I will always love Hannah.”
Jon Mitropoulos-Monk, head of English, Latymer Upper School, said: “She was so excited to start studying English at Oxford, a goal she had worked so hard towards.
“When she got her place, she sought out every single member of the Latymer Upper English Department to thank them individually and give them a hug.
“She achieved everything she did with extraordinary levels of grace and fortitude that few others can say they possess.
“I taught Hannah for four years. I will remember her for what she taught me: kindness, compassion and commitment.”
Gracie Lea, one of Hannah’s classmates, said: “When I think of Hannah, I think of poetry, sunshine, and her beautiful eyes.
“She was easy to love: sincere, dedicated, fiercely intelligent and genuinely kind. I’ll always remember her smiling.”
Patrick Jacob, a family friend said: “Hannah was charming and ferociously intelligent with an insatiable thirst for life and knowledge. She was also warm, loving and deeply considerate; remarkably for her age.
“I am 50 years older than her and in my life I have never met anybody like Hannah. “
“We have lost one of our brightest stars whose future held so much promise. Her loss is unbearable.”
