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Missing ferry couple in Belgium | Missing ferry couple in Belgium |
(20 minutes later) | |
Two ferry passengers who sparked a major air and sea search when they went missing from a cross-Channel P&O vessel have turned up in Belgium. | Two ferry passengers who sparked a major air and sea search when they went missing from a cross-Channel P&O vessel have turned up in Belgium. |
The man and woman failed to return to their coach on board the Pride of Kent ferry when it docked in Calais on Monday morning. | The man and woman failed to return to their coach on board the Pride of Kent ferry when it docked in Calais on Monday morning. |
Dover Coastguard, the RNLI and the French Navy joined a search centred on a 25-mile stretch of the Channel. | Dover Coastguard, the RNLI and the French Navy joined a search centred on a 25-mile stretch of the Channel. |
The passengers were discovered alive and well at their home in Belgium. | The passengers were discovered alive and well at their home in Belgium. |
It is thought they disembarked from the ferry when it arrived in Calais at 0130 GMT without informing the coach company, Eurobusexpress. | It is thought they disembarked from the ferry when it arrived in Calais at 0130 GMT without informing the coach company, Eurobusexpress. |
The coach had joined the Pride of Kent at Dover and was heading for Brussels and Amsterdam. | The coach had joined the Pride of Kent at Dover and was heading for Brussels and Amsterdam. |
One-way tickets | One-way tickets |
Andy Roberts, of Dover Coastguard, said the couple had been seen on board just after it set sail. | Andy Roberts, of Dover Coastguard, said the couple had been seen on board just after it set sail. |
A search was launched because of fears they might have gone overboard. | A search was launched because of fears they might have gone overboard. |
The managing director of Eurobusexpress said the couple had bought one-way tickets to Brussels shortly before boarding the coach in London at 2100 GMT on Sunday. | |
Gerard Hagen said there were eight passengers on board, but only six by the time the coach driver was ready to leave Calais. | Gerard Hagen said there were eight passengers on board, but only six by the time the coach driver was ready to leave Calais. |
"They (the missing couple) only had hand luggage, which is not unusual. No luggage was left on the coach," he said. | "They (the missing couple) only had hand luggage, which is not unusual. No luggage was left on the coach," he said. |
"We've been doing this for 15 years and it's the first time anything has happened like this." | "We've been doing this for 15 years and it's the first time anything has happened like this." |
Dover Coastguard said it had been their biggest rescue operation this year. | Dover Coastguard said it had been their biggest rescue operation this year. |