Two British victims on the Egyptian diving boat that caught fire in the Red Sea had decided to sleep late the morning the fire broke out, while the other British man who died returned to his cabin to take his personal belongings, according to a report. .
Sources told Al Arabiya.net that the three missing people, a woman and two men, were inside their rooms on the ship at the time the fire broke out on Sunday morning, noting that one of them came out of the room in an attempt to escape. , but then he came back.
They also added that you may have wanted to get your phone, passport, or some of your personal belongings out of the room, but then couldn’t get out.
Sources told the news outlet that the other two, the man and the woman, hated getting up early and were asleep when the fire started because they did not participate in the diving trip.
They also pointed out that their rooms were located near the fuel tank and that they could have died from suffocation or from their burns.
Three British tourists who were reported missing have been confirmed dead after a boat caught fire during a diving trip.
Scuba Travel, the company that chartered the boat, announced that the three Britons who “died in the tragic incident” off the coast of Marsa Alam had decided not to go diving that day, so they were unable to evacuate the boat quickly.
Investigators reviewing the wreckage confirmed today that the three victims were found below decks in their cabins after failing to escape heavy fire.
Scuba Travel said the three passengers were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts aboard the ‘Hurricane’ ship for a week-long voyage when the fire broke out at around 6:30am UK time.
“At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were taking part in a briefing on board, while the missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning,” the company added.
Scuba Travel said that due to the severity of the fire, 12 divers were immediately evacuated to a nearby vessel, while the 14 crew members had to abandon ship after trying to reach missing guests.
Footage on social media showed the tour ship turned into a floating inferno as its stern was engulfed in flames, producing plumes of black smoke as it stood off Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea.
Video showed terrified passengers jumping from the ship, which had 29 people on board at the time, to escape after an alleged electrical failure in the engine room.
This is the heart-stopping moment a passenger jumps off a burning Egyptian tour boat
Other passengers could be seen falling from the boat onto nearby vessels in an attempt to escape.
A Scuba Travel spokesperson confirmed to MailOnline yesterday: ‘We are very sorry that we as tour operators must with heavy hearts accept that three of our valued dive guests perished in the tragic incident.
“Our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to their families and friends at this very sad time.”
In all, 26 passengers were rescued, 12 British and the other 14 believed to be Egyptian. Local police said the people rescued had no injuries and were in good health.
They also said the rescued crew suffered no injuries and were brought ashore in good health.
The group of shocked survivors were offered trauma counseling today after their ordeal, which was compounded by the devastating loss of the three people they bonded closely with during their week together.
The Britons have been taken to a hotel in Hurghada, 180 miles north of the tragedy, while emergency travel documents are prepared to allow them to return to the UK.
A Scuba Travel spokesman, Pat Adamson, said: ‘They lost everything on the boat. People will be searching under the sea, but if nothing turns up again, then that’s it.
All their credit cards, money, personal belongings, toothbrush, car keys, credit cards, all gone, and their passports.
Their cars are in Gatwick, they don’t have the keys to their house.
The group had been together for a week long trip.
Mr Adamson added: ‘There is now a trauma counselor with them. Even though they’ve only been together for a few days, it’s a small group and you get to know each other incredibly well.’
The wrecked Egyptian dive boat was seen lying on its side as it was brought ashore for investigation.
Rescue services were alerted to the fire after the fire was said to have started in the engine room due to an electrical fault.
Local authorities will conduct a full investigation to determine what caused the fire. The wrecked ship has been photographed lying on its side with smoke billowing from it on the shore as it cools.
The cruise ship left Port Ghalib in the eastern city of Marsa Alam on June 6 and was due to return on Sunday.
It was said to be one of Tornado Marine Fleet’s tours, which offer ‘Luxury Red Sea Liveaboards’ for just under £1,500 per trip.
A Foreign Office spokesman said on Sunday: “We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a diving boat near Marsa Alam, and we are supporting the British citizens involved.”
MailOnline has contacted the Foreign Office for an updated comment.
Shocking footage showed the stern of the ship was ravaged by flames as black smoke billowed from the ship.
The Red Sea Governorate said: “The initial examination resulted in an electrical short circuit in the engine room, and the investigating authorities went to carry out an inspection and investigation.”
He added: ‘[The Secretary General] noted that the crew and passengers were rescued by the ship named “Blue” and returned to the center of Marsa Alam, and three British passengers are still being searched by the relevant authorities and other ships, stressing that the Ambulance Authority and the Directorate of Health Affairs have been notified to raise the level of preparedness and follow-up is underway.’
A diving enthusiast who was on the same boat in May said the ship was plagued with problems and no one was surprised the fire broke out.
He told MailOnline: ‘[We had] recurring issues for the week of May 1 and 8. There was no nitrox on board. They should have, but they never told us.
The toilets and showers were not working properly.
He added: ‘There was some problem below decks. They were pumping something but it was going up my toilet.
Police said the rescued crew suffered no injuries and were washed ashore in good health.
The dive boat moored at Daedalus Reef in the Red Sea, Egypt, before the fire
“The crew work very hard, they don’t get paid very much, but the ship has seen better days.
She was in cabin six forward, so she wouldn’t have wanted to get out of there.
None of us are surprised that [the blaze] happened.’
Egypt’s Red Sea resorts are home to some of the country’s most famous beach destinations and are popular with European tourists.
The country has established its reputation as a diving destination with easy access to coral reefs from the shores and dive sites offering diverse marine life.
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