The cause of death of a Kent couple who were found after a yacht sank near the coast of Sicily has been revealed.

Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, from Sevenoaks, were found to have suffocated in an air bubble as oxygen ran out, according to Italian media.

Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also suffered the same fate.

The group were on a trip with British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch to celebrate his acquittal of fraud charges in America.

After the yacht went down during a storm with high winds last month, six were confirmed missing – including the tycoon’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah.

It sparked a massive search and rescue response, with emergency services working to find them in the wreckage.

All six were eventually found dead.

Mr Bloomer was the chairman of Morgan Stanley International Bank and had another business on companies house registered in the area.

He was also former honorary treasurer of children’s charity NSPCC which said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.

Last month tributes were paid to the couple, who were described by their family as “incredible people and an inspiration to many”.

As the boat sank, Mr and Mrs Bloomer were said to have suffocated as oxygen ran out, and not drowned, Italian publication La Repubblica reported.

The post-mortem examinations, along with those of Mr Morvillo and his wife, were said to have found no water in their lungs.

It suggests they died as their cabins filled with carbon dioxide and ran out of oxygen.

Divers who recovered the bodies reportedly found them on the left side of cabins.

Investigators believe it shows they were seeking the last pockets of air as the yacht tilted to the right after sinking.

La Repubblica added there were no signs of injuries to the four victims examined so far.

It is understood the other post-mortems will be carried out tomorrow (September 6) and the boat is to be raised out of the sea for the investigation.

Italian prosecutors have since placed the boat's captain, James Cutfield, as well as engineer Tim Parker Eaton and crew member Matthew Griffiths, under investigation for suspected multiple manslaughter and culpable shipwreck.