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Fifth British victim in whale-boat disaster named Fifth British victim in whale-boat disaster named
(34 minutes later)
Five Britons including a father and his teenage son who died when a whale-watching boat sank off the coast of Canada have been named.Five Britons including a father and his teenage son who died when a whale-watching boat sank off the coast of Canada have been named.
David Thomas, 50, and his 18-year-old son Stephen, from Swindon, Wiltshire, were among five Britons who died after the boat overturned near Vancouver Island on Sunday. Nigel Hooker, 63, from Southampton, and expats Jack Slater, 76, and Katie Taylor, 29, were also killed. David Thomas, 50, and his 18-year-old son Stephen, from Swindon, Wiltshire, were among those who died after the boat overturned near Vancouver Island on Sunday. Nigel Hooker, 63, from Southampton, and expats Jack Slater, 76, and Katie Taylor, 29, were also killed.
Stephen Thomas’s brother, Paul, 22, a student, told the Swindon Advertiser that his mother, Julie, was also on board but survived with minor injuries. He planned to fly to Canada to be with his mother, the paper said.Stephen Thomas’s brother, Paul, 22, a student, told the Swindon Advertiser that his mother, Julie, was also on board but survived with minor injuries. He planned to fly to Canada to be with his mother, the paper said.
Matt Brown, regional coroner for the island region of British Columbia, said Slater lived in Toronto and Taylor lived in the ski resort of Whistler. He said none of the five who died were wearing life jackets although they were available.
“Life jackets were on board. I believe that this vessel can occupy up to 50 individuals. There were 27 on board and there were life jackets available for all of them.”
Brown said the boat had two decks, adding: “The information we have is that they were at the top of the boat.” He said the top deck was open whereas the lower deck was enclosed by windows. A 27-year-old man from Sydney remains missing, he said.
Related: Whale boat disaster: 'people opened their homes for the survivors'Related: Whale boat disaster: 'people opened their homes for the survivors'
The stricken boat, run by local tour firm Jamie’s Whaling Station, got into difficulty eight miles from the small town of Tofino, around 150 miles west of Vancouver. Matt Brown, regional coroner for the island region of British Columbia, said Slater lived in Toronto and Taylor lived in the ski resort of Whistler. He said none of the five who died were wearing lifejackets although they were available.
Following the incident the company’s owner, Jamie Bray, said passengers on the boat were not required to wear life jackets. “Lifejackets were on board. I believe that this vessel can occupy up to 50 individuals. There were 27 on board and there were lifejackets available for all of them.”
“On larger vessels we’re not required to have the passengers wear the life jackets. On smaller open boats they are,” he said. Brown said the boat had two decks, adding: “The information we have is that they were at the top of the boat.” He said the top deck was open whereas the lower deck was enclosed by windows. A 27-year-old man from Sydney remains missing, he said.
The stricken boat, run by local tour firm Jamie’s Whaling Station, got into difficulty eight miles from the small town of Tofino, about 150 miles west of Vancouver.
Following the incident, the company’s owner, Jamie Bray, said passengers on the boat were not required to wear lifejackets.
“On larger vessels we’re not required to have the passengers wear the lifejackets. On smaller open boats they are,” he said.
Microsoft issued a statement paying tribute to David Thomas, who worked for the company. Michel van der Bel, area vice-president and general manager at Microsoft UK, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the death of David Thomas, a Microsoft employee, and his son in the tragic boating accident in Canada.Microsoft issued a statement paying tribute to David Thomas, who worked for the company. Michel van der Bel, area vice-president and general manager at Microsoft UK, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the death of David Thomas, a Microsoft employee, and his son in the tragic boating accident in Canada.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with their family, friends and David’s colleagues and we will be doing everything we can to support them.”“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with their family, friends and David’s colleagues and we will be doing everything we can to support them.”
Robert Buckland, MP for Swindon South, tweeted to say he had been in touch with the Foreign Office to get more information.Robert Buckland, MP for Swindon South, tweeted to say he had been in touch with the Foreign Office to get more information.
Stephen, who was a keen photographer, posted some of his work on his blog called Stephen’s View, writing: “I am really interested in photography. I like taking pictures of flowers, landscapes and people.” Stephen Thomas, who was a keen photographer, posted some of his work on his blog – called Stephen’s View – writing: “I am really interested in photography. I like taking pictures of flowers, landscapes and people.”
Paying a tribute to her father, Michele Slater Brown wrote on her Facebook page: “Our dad was larger than life, a charmer, handsome, entrepreneur, engineer in the Navy, he was 76 years old, he was our dad, our lovely dad, I will miss him forever but I’m grateful for all the times I spent with him, I love you dad.” Jack Slater’s daughter, Michele Slater Brown, paid tribute to her father on her Facebook page: “Our dad was larger than life, a charmer, handsome, entrepreneur, engineer in the Navy, he was 76 years old, he was our dad, our lovely dad, I will miss him forever but I’m grateful for all the times I spent with him, I love you dad.”
The Down’s Syndrome Association UK said in a statement that David Thomas was a “huge supporter” of the organisation and “one of the driving forces behind the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group, where he was a trustee”.The Down’s Syndrome Association UK said in a statement that David Thomas was a “huge supporter” of the organisation and “one of the driving forces behind the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group, where he was a trustee”.
Stephen Thomas, who had Down’s syndrome, “was a very talented young man and a gifted photographer”, the association said in a statement.Stephen Thomas, who had Down’s syndrome, “was a very talented young man and a gifted photographer”, the association said in a statement.
“His love of photography started when he was eight years old. We were all delighted when Stephen’s beautiful image Moraine Lake won the national My Perspective photographic competition last year,” the association added.“His love of photography started when he was eight years old. We were all delighted when Stephen’s beautiful image Moraine Lake won the national My Perspective photographic competition last year,” the association added.
His father, who had his own amateur photography website, described himself as a “committed Christian” who was “in constant awe at the wonders of God’s creation”.His father, who had his own amateur photography website, described himself as a “committed Christian” who was “in constant awe at the wonders of God’s creation”.
Twenty-one people were rescued from the stricken vessel, which was carrying 24 passengers and three crew.Twenty-one people were rescued from the stricken vessel, which was carrying 24 passengers and three crew.