Tributes paid after co-defendant of tech tycoon Mike Lynch dies following car crash as search continues in yacht tragedy

20 August 2024, 10:28 | Updated: 20 August 2024, 11:04

Stephen Chamberlain
Stephen Chamberlain. Picture: LinkedIn/Cambridgeshire Constabulary

By Emma Soteriou

Tributes have been paid after the business partner of 'Britain's Bill Gates' died following a car crash.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Stephen Chamberlain was hit by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday morning and rushed to hospital with serious injuries and later confirmed to have died.

It happened just days before a superyacht sunk off the Sicily coast, with Mr Chamberlain's former business partner Mike Lynch and his daughter among six still missing.

The pair worked together on software giant Autonomy, with Mr Chamberlain acting as vice president of finance alongside Mr Lynch as chief executive.

They were both recently acquitted in a US fraud trial following the sale of Autonomy for $11bn (£8.64bn).

Read more: 'The missing six': Search resumes for British tech tycoon and daughter, 18, after superyacht sinks off Sicilian coast

Read more: 'I held her with all my strength': Brit mother reveals how she saved her baby as superyacht sank in tornado off Sicily

Stephen Chamberlain
Stephen Chamberlain. Picture: Cambridgeshire Police

Mr Chamberlain's family have since paid tribute to him, saying: "Steve was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend.

"He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible.

"He made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

"He will be deeply missed but forever in the hearts of his loved ones."

His lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, said in a statement: "Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out running. 

"He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him. 

"Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family."

British tech giant Mike Lynch, his lawyer and four other people are among those missing after their luxury superyacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily.
British tech giant Mike Lynch, his lawyer and four other people are among those missing after their luxury superyacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily. Picture: Alamy

Cambridgeshire Police said there has been nothing to suggest any suspicious circumstances around Mr Chamberlain's death.

They added that the driver of the car involved in the crash was speaking to the police voluntarily and had not been arrested.

At this stage, there is no link between the two incidents - and British detectives have not been contacted by Italian authorities as of yet.

A statement said: "The pedestrian involved in the collision on Saturday has died in hospital and can now be named as 52-year-old Stephen Chamberlain of Station Road, Longstanton, Cambridgeshire."

Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the collision, or the moments before or after, should contact the force via 101 and ask to speak with Detective Constable Kevin Drury in the serious collision investigation unit (SCIU).

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Lottie Moss rushed to hospital after 9-stone model suffers terrifying seizure from taking Ozempic

Lottie Moss rushed to hospital after model suffers violent seizure from Ozempic overdose - as star makes stark warning

Who are Jason Isaacman and Sarah Gillis

Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis just completed the first ever private spacewalk - but who are they?

A truck carrying bells is parked outside Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral (Michel Euler/AP)

Bells returning to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris following devastating fire

Holly Ramsay and Adam Peaty are engaged.

Gordon Ramsay's daughter Holly announces she is engaged to 'best friend' Olympic star Adam Peaty

The European Central Bank in Frankfurt (Michael Probst/AP)

European Central Bank cuts benchmark rate by quarter point as inflation declines

The man leaned out of the van window to push a cyclist off his bike

Moment van passenger leans out of window to push cyclist off bike in ‘despicable random attack’

Letby is serving 15 whole life terms in jail

People questioning Letby verdict ‘should be ashamed’ for ‘recklessly promoting conspiracy theories,’ inquiry hears

Kristina Joksimovic and her husband Thomas

Miss Switzerland finalist 'had perfect family' before husband 'strangled her and made her into purée in a blender'

Pedro Sanchez greets exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez (Fernando Calvo, Spanish Government via AP)

Spanish prime minister meets with exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Gonzalez

The 'Co-op superwoman' tackled the would-be shoplifter

Moment 'Co-op superwoman' shop worker steps in to stop 'shoplifter' in his tracks as he sprints from shop

Alwen Hughes (left) has died one year after the death of her husband Rolf Harris

Wife of disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris dies aged 93 a year after death of paedophile husband

Mission specialist Sarah Gillis (left) and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman (right) spacewalking

Billionaire makes history by stepping out into space on the first ever private spacewalk

What Lord Darzi is describing when it comes to the problems within the health service my family knows all too well, writes Matthew Hulbert

My mum died after waiting eleven hours for an ambulance— a properly funded NHS might have saved her life

Bukayo Saka in action for England on Tuesday

Law student 'facing jail' after targeting Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka with racist abuse

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Luca Bruno/AP)

Hungary prepared to sue EU executive for border protection costs, minister says

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at Chopin Airport in Warsaw (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Blinken wraps up Ukraine-focused Europe trip in Poland amid arms request