This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/6142526.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Missing ferry couple in Belgium Missing ferry couple in Belgium
(30 minutes later)
Two ferry passengers who sparked a major air and sea search when they went missing from a cross-Channel P&O vessel have turned up in Belgium.Two ferry passengers who sparked a major air and sea search when they went missing from a cross-Channel P&O vessel have turned up in Belgium.
The man and woman failed to return to their coach on board the Pride of Kent ferry when it docked in Calais on Monday morning. The man and woman did not board their coach when the Pride of Kent ferry docked in Calais on Monday morning.
Dover Coastguard, the RNLI and the French Navy joined a search centred on a 25-mile stretch of the Channel. But there appeared to have been a misunderstanding, as Kent Police said they had told the Polish driver they would not be getting back on the coach.
The passengers were discovered alive and well at their home in Belgium. Officers have now spoken to the passengers over the phone from Belgium.
It is thought they disembarked from the ferry when it arrived in Calais at 0130 GMT without informing the coach company, Eurobusexpress. Vessel searched
The coach had joined the Pride of Kent at Dover and was heading for Brussels and Amsterdam. They were identified by the coach company as Frugoni Alessandro and Daniella Abieu, both aged between 20 and 25.
"We are now in the process of confirming their identities," a Kent Police statement said.
A seven-hour search involving Dover Coastguard, the RNLI and the French Navy was begun at 0300 GMT on Monday, amid fears they might have gone overboard.
The ferry had arrived in Calais from Dover at 0130 GMT, and its crew scoured the vessel twice when the pair were reported missing.
Their coach, operated by Eurobusexpress, had joined the Pride of Kent at Dover and was heading for Brussels and Amsterdam.
One-way ticketsOne-way tickets
Andy Roberts, of Dover Coastguard, said the couple had been seen on board just after it set sail. Andy Roberts, of Dover Coastguard, said the pair had been seen on board just after it set sail.
A search was launched because of fears they might have gone overboard. The managing director of Eurobusexpress said they bought one-way tickets to Brussels shortly before boarding the coach in London at 2100 GMT on Sunday.
The managing director of Eurobusexpress said the couple had bought one-way tickets to Brussels shortly before boarding the coach in London at 2100 GMT on Sunday.
Gerard Hagen said there were eight passengers on board, but only six by the time the coach driver was ready to leave Calais.Gerard Hagen said there were eight passengers on board, but only six by the time the coach driver was ready to leave Calais.
"They (the missing couple) only had hand luggage, which is not unusual. No luggage was left on the coach," he said."They (the missing couple) only had hand luggage, which is not unusual. No luggage was left on the coach," he said.
"We've been doing this for 15 years and it's the first time anything has happened like this.""We've been doing this for 15 years and it's the first time anything has happened like this."
Dover Coastguard said it had been their biggest rescue operation this year.Dover Coastguard said it had been their biggest rescue operation this year.