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 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.
“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.”
The yacht, which sunk early Monday morning after a storm, is now at a depth of around 50m (164ft) off Porticello near Palermo, where it had been anchored.
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 Briton Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter Sofia.
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