The British businessman was recently acquitted in a trial in the U.S.

An Italian government official says British tech businessman Mike Lynch’s body has been retrieved from the sunken luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily earlier this week while his family and friends were celebrating after his recent acquittal in a high-profile trial.

PEOPLE previously reported that five bodies had been found in the days after the Bayesian went into the water early on Monday, Aug. 19, following what was described by authorities as a “violent storm.”

Massimo Mariani, an official with the Italian interior ministry, confirmed to Reuters that Lynch was one of the victim’s found while Lynch’s daughter Hannah remains missing.

Mariani could not immediately be reached for comment by PEOPLE and a ministry spokesperson said they would not confirm Lynch’s identity, though sources close to the search and rescue operation told PEOPLE Lynch’s body had been recovered.

According to the Italian coast guard, the Bayesian was off the coast of Porticello when tragedy struck on Aug. 19, though it remains unclear why exactly the vessel sank so quickly.

Twenty-two people were on board, including 12 passengers and 10 crew, the coast guard said.

Fifteen of those were soon rescued, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, and the body of the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, was found nearby.

Six people were reported as missing: Lynch and daughter Hannah; Chairman of Morgan Stanley International Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy; as well as New York City-based lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda.

A source close to the survivors previously told PEOPLE that the passengers were celebrating after Lynch, labeled in headlines as Britain’s “Bill Gates,” was acquitted in June in a financial fraud trial in the U.S. that was related to selling his software company Autonomy for $11 billion to Hewlett Packard in 2011.

“That’s why he took his closest friends and colleagues on the trip,” the source said.

The search and rescue operation for the missing individuals from the sunken luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily continues, with the recent discovery of British tech businessman Mike Lynch’s body. Lynch, who was recently acquitted in a high-profile trial in the U.S., was among the victims found in the aftermath of the tragic incident.The Italian coast guard reported that the yacht, named Bayesian, was carrying a total of 22 people at the time of the accident, including 12 passengers and 10 crew members. While 15 individuals were rescued, Lynch’s daughter Hannah remains missing along with five others. The circumstances surrounding the sinking of the yacht are still unclear, leaving many questions unanswered.Lynch’s body was found while his family and friends were onboard the yacht celebrating his legal victory. The trip was meant to be a joyous occasion following Lynch’s successful defense in a financial fraud trial related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett Packard. The tragic turn of events has left those close to Lynch and the other missing individuals devastated and in shock.As the investigation into the yacht sinking continues, authorities are working tirelessly to locate the remaining missing passengers. The impact of this heartbreaking incident has reverberated throughout the international community, serving as a reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictability of nature.Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this tragedy. We will continue to provide updates on the situation as more information becomes available. Stay connected with us for the latest developments and to support us in our efforts to bring you valuable and informative content.

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Source: USA Today