Missing Brits in Egypt named as 'adventure-loving' Devon couple

The two Brits still missing after a tourist boat sank in the Red Sea off the Egyptian coast have been named as an engaged couple from Devon.

According to reports, 'adventure-loving couple' Jenny Cawson, 36, and Tariq Sinada, 49, were enjoying a reef safari holiday when the yacht they were on was hit by a huge wave in the early hours of Monday (November 25).

The Mirror reports the couple, who have both worked as scuba diving instructors, are feared to have drowned after Egyptian authorities said they are among seven passengers who have not yet been found.

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So far, a total of 33 people have been rescued and four people are confirmed to have died in the tragedy after the 144ft vessel, named Sea Story, sank in an area known as Dolphin Reef.

Two other Brits were among 28 people rescued just hours after it capsized at around 5.30am. They have been named as London couple Colin Sharratt, 65, and Sally Jones, 58.

Five more survivors were miraculously plucked from the wreckage on Tuesday night after surviving for more than 30 hours with just a tiny air pocket to breathe in underneath the boat. They told how they were trapped in the pitch black and cold water with just their mouths and noses above the surface.

Just after the incident, the Foreign Office said it was providing consular support to "a number of British nationals and their families". The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers saved 28 people from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.

Mr Hanafy said 31 tourists of various nationalities were on board along with 14 crew. The governorate received a report shortly before dawn on Monday of a distress call made from the yacht, which had left Marsa Alam for a five-day journey.

It was not immediately clear what caused the wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink. On Saturday, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity on Sunday and Monday.

The firm that operates the yacht, Dive Pro Liveaboard in Hurghada, Egypt, said on Monday that it had no information on the matter.

'A couple who love adventure and the outdoors'

As the identities of the two missing Brits emerged on Thursday evening, Miss Cawson and Mr Sinada were described as a couple who love adventure and the outdoors, often snowboarding, mountain climbing and diving together.

Miss Cawson, who works as an IT consultant, and Mr Sinada - an astrophysics graduate of Imperial College - have lived together for years in Ashburton in Devon.

Mr Sinada works for Tata Consultancy Services in the UK, but has also worked as a scuba diving instructor in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Miss Cawson has often worked alongside him.

An official source told the Daily Mail they were among those missing, presumed drowned. The Sea Story was due to return to Hurghada tomorrow after a six-day voyage from Port Ghalib. The journey is extremely popular with diving enthusiasts, with the area considered a world class reef.

The yacht is said to have sunk 40ft in just six minutes, with the hull of the boat currently floating just half a metre above the surface. Experts in Egypt told The Mirror the search operation is getting increasingly difficult as the conditions for diving are extremely dangerous and the vessel is still being dragged further and further out to sea.

A spokesperson for Mr Sidana's employers said: "The incident that took place in the Red Sea on Monday is tragic and our thoughts are with Tarig's family and all those that have been impacted. We hope for his safe return, along with all other passengers." Miss Cawson's relatives were too upset to comment.

A FCDO Spokesperson said: "We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities."