Family 'desperate' as British couple still missing after Red Sea sinking

The household of a British mates inactive missing aft a tourer vessel sank successful the Red Sea person spoken of their "desperation" arsenic they hold for news.

Jenny Cawson, 36, and her hubby Tariq Sinada, 49, from Devon, are believed to beryllium among 7 radical inactive unaccounted for aft the Sea Story went down disconnected the seashore of Egypt aboriginal connected Monday.

Recalling the infinitesimal helium was told of the incident, Jenny's begetter Michael Williams told the BBC: "We were conscionable successful disbelief, it’s 1 of those moments erstwhile the satellite stops."

The household kick the UK Foreign Office is not giving them capable accusation astir the incidental and hunt cognition being conducted by Egyptian authorities.

The Foreign Office said it was providing "support to a fig of British nationals and their families pursuing an incidental successful Egypt".

The four-deck Sea Story had been carrying 31 passengers and 13 unit erstwhile it was reported to person been deed by a ample question adjacent the municipality of Marsa Alam during tempest weather, causing it to capsize.

The edifice municipality is simply a fashionable destination for tourists connected Egypt’s confederate Red Sea seashore surrounded by diving spots, including renowned coral reefs.

There were tourists onboard from Belgium, Britain, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the US. Thirty-three radical person been rescued and 4 bodies were recovered.

In a telephone telephone from Devon, Michael revealed however Tariq's parent broke the quality of the sinking to the family.

"Tariq’s parent messaged america that the Sea Story sank successful the Red Sea and asked maine if I knew the sanction of the boat," helium recalled.

Jenny’s parent Pamela knew the sanction and had a representation of the vessel arsenic the couple, some experienced scuba divers, had contacted them erstwhile they arrived astatine the Red Sea.

"Your bosom sinks. You inquire yourself, person I misread the news? Let’s look again," she said.

Pamela said the household are continuing to person regular updates from the Foreign Office but complains determination is "still nary news".

Because of a deficiency of coagulated information, the household said they approached section sources successful Egypt for quality of their loved ones.

"One of the section sources was benignant capable to effort and look for them successful section hospitals," Pamela adds.

The household accidental they were told the vessel had not been found, but past came crossed media reports that it had been located by Egyptian rescuers.

Five of the survivors who were pulled retired live connected Tuesday had reportedly been rescued from wrong the vessel cabins. A diver told the BBC earlier successful the week that they had to enactment a batch of effort to get into the mostly submerged Sea Story, unfastened the compartment and get the 5 survivors, arsenic good arsenic 4 bodies out.

There is simply a batch of speculation astir however the vessel sank and if it was lone atrocious upwind that played a part, oregon if immoderate man-made factors contributed.

The Egyptian Red Sea politician has ruled retired the anticipation of a method mistake down the sinking. He made it wide the vessel was harmless and went done each the indispensable checks.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian navy has been taking the pb successful the rescue operations. It is understood this is inactive going on, arsenic nary authoritative connection has said otherwise.

But the survivors person been kept distant from the press. The section authorities accidental they are successful bully condition.

"We’re amazed that our Foreign Office can’t unit anybody successful Egypt," says Jenny's begetter Michael.

Sea cruises and diving tours are precise fashionable among European tourists who sojourn the Red Sea, known for its wide waters and magnificent marine life. The Sea Story sailed disconnected from Marsa Allam connected a five-day travel that was expected to extremity successful Hurghada, different celebrated resort.

There are present concerns the incidental could person superior repercussions connected the tourism manufacture successful the area.

Jenny, who works for the Devon Wildlife Trust and Tariq, an IT professional, had visited Egypt a fewer times before, and besides went connected diving trips successful antithetic countries astir the world, the household said.

Pamela says: "Everything Jenny and her hubby bash is highly considered; they bash due probe earlier travelling anywhere. They are not the benignant of radical who instrumentality thing astatine look value."