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Hurricane Maria: British man feared dead as partner and children rescued from capsized boat | Hurricane Maria: British man feared dead as partner and children rescued from capsized boat |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A British man is feared to have died after a boat he was travelling on with his family was overturned by Hurricane Maria. | |
The unnamed man had been with his family on a boat that sounded a distress call off the coast of Puerto Rico as the storm moved in on Wednesday. | The unnamed man had been with his family on a boat that sounded a distress call off the coast of Puerto Rico as the storm moved in on Wednesday. |
The 20ft seas and 115mph winds capsized their vessel, with the extreme weather delaying rescue efforts by the US Coast Guard and a Royal Navy helicopter. | The 20ft seas and 115mph winds capsized their vessel, with the extreme weather delaying rescue efforts by the US Coast Guard and a Royal Navy helicopter. |
Dramatic footage from the US Coast Guard showed a woman and two boys standing on the hull of their overturned boat, the Ferrel, wearing life jackets and waving to rescuers. | Dramatic footage from the US Coast Guard showed a woman and two boys standing on the hull of their overturned boat, the Ferrel, wearing life jackets and waving to rescuers. |
A coastguard plane and rescue helicopter from the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay ship were deployed to the scene near Vieques. | A coastguard plane and rescue helicopter from the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay ship were deployed to the scene near Vieques. |
“Coast Guard watchstanders received an alert via emergency position indicating radio beacon and then a distress call on 20 September from the Ferrel stating they were disabled and adrift in 20-foot seas and 100-knot winds,” a spokesperson said. | “Coast Guard watchstanders received an alert via emergency position indicating radio beacon and then a distress call on 20 September from the Ferrel stating they were disabled and adrift in 20-foot seas and 100-knot winds,” a spokesperson said. |
Radio contact was later lost but a Hercules aircraft spotted the vessel and communicated its position to rescuers. | Radio contact was later lost but a Hercules aircraft spotted the vessel and communicated its position to rescuers. |
A woman and two children were hoisted to safety by the Royal Navy but a man was reported dead inside the capsized vessel. | A woman and two children were hoisted to safety by the Royal Navy but a man was reported dead inside the capsized vessel. |
The US Coastguard said the conditions made it “inaccessible to search and rescue crews”. | The US Coastguard said the conditions made it “inaccessible to search and rescue crews”. |
The commanding officer of RFA Mounts Bay, Captain Steve Norris, said: “My ship and crew demonstrated exceptional teamwork today to save these lives, and I am immensely grateful to them all for their efforts in this operation. | |
”It is with regret that we understand that a fourth individual at the scene is missing, presumed dead. Our thoughts go out to their family at this difficult time.“ | |
The man was British and had been on board the Ferrel with his two 12-year-old children and their Dominican mother, the Sun Sentinel reported. | The man was British and had been on board the Ferrel with his two 12-year-old children and their Dominican mother, the Sun Sentinel reported. |
The survivors, who have not been named, were placed on the USS Kearsarge. | The survivors, who have not been named, were placed on the USS Kearsarge. |
The force-five hurricane left a trail of destruction through Puerto Rico and Dominica and is moving towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. | The force-five hurricane left a trail of destruction through Puerto Rico and Dominica and is moving towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. |
It has flooded towns, crushing homes and killed several victims, with millions on Puerto Rico facing weeks without electricity after the storm knocked out the entire grid supplying 3.4 million people. | It has flooded towns, crushing homes and killed several victims, with millions on Puerto Rico facing weeks without electricity after the storm knocked out the entire grid supplying 3.4 million people. |
Maria's death toll across the Caribbean has climbed to at least 32, mainly in Puerto Rico and Dominica. | |
Its most recent classification was a strength of three, with maximum sustained winds near 125mph, but gradual weakening is expected during the next two days. | Its most recent classification was a strength of three, with maximum sustained winds near 125mph, but gradual weakening is expected during the next two days. |
Maria is the third major hurricane to hit the Caribbean this month and the strongest storm to make landfall in Puerto Rico in almost 90 years. | Maria is the third major hurricane to hit the Caribbean this month and the strongest storm to make landfall in Puerto Rico in almost 90 years. |
The UK is part of a Multinational Caribbean Coordination Cell and has allocated £57m for the immediate response, with 1,300 military troops in the region. | The UK is part of a Multinational Caribbean Coordination Cell and has allocated £57m for the immediate response, with 1,300 military troops in the region. |
The hotline for British people affected or concerned about others is +44 (0)20 7008 0000. |