British sailor, 73, missing after his damaged yacht found off French coast

UK

A British sailor is missing in the Bay of Biscay after his damaged yacht was found off the French coast.

A search was launched for the 73-year-old on Saturday after a distress beacon was launched 50 miles west of Lacanau at around 3pm, according to the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture, a French government organisation.

He had earlier told a nearby cargo ship he was safe and continuing on his way, after not responding to previous radio messages.

A French air force helicopter found the American flagged yacht – called Tiger PA – at around 5.30pm.

Divers who winched down to the “gutted” sailboat found no sign of the man.

A Portuguese cargo ship and a Spanish hospital ship were diverted to the area and joined the search.

The French navy’s Falcon 50, a maritime surveillance aircraft, was also deployed at nightfall.

The search was suspended at 1.33pm on Sunday, the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture added.

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Storm Herminia – named by Spanish meteorologists – brought heavy rain and strong winds to the north of Spain and western France at the weekend.

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