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Murdered British sailor's family talk of St Lucia tragedy Murdered British sailor's family talk of St Lucia tragedy
(about 1 hour later)
The family of a British man who died defending his wife after attackers boarded their boat in the Caribbean said it was a "tragic, shattering end" to their dream holiday. The family of a British man who died defending his wife after attackers boarded their boat in the Caribbean say it was a "tragic, shattering end" to the couple's dream holiday.
Roger Pratt, 62, a retired engineer, died and his wife, Margaret, was injured after three armed men climbed aboard their yacht moored off the south coast of St Lucia on Friday, police said. Roger Pratt, 62, a retired engineer, died and his wife, Margaret, was injured after three armed men climbed on board their yacht moored off the south coast of St Lucia on Friday, police said.
Margaret Pratt, who retired as a management consultant to go on the long-planned around-the-world holiday, had celebrated her 60th birthday just days before the incident. Margaret Pratt, who retired as a management consultant to go on the long-planned around-the-world holiday, had celebrated her 60th birthday just days before the incident. The couple had planned to set sail the day before the attack, but were prevented from leaving by a bureaucratic hold-up.
The couple had planned to set sail the day before the attack, but were prevented from leaving by a bureaucratic hold up. Margaret Pratt's sister, Jenny Riley, a teacher from Beccles, Suffolk, said the family was "totally shocked and shattered" by the news, the Daily Mail reported.
Margaret Pratt's sister, Jenny Riley, a teacher from Beccles, Suffolk, said the family had been left "totally shocked and shattered" by the news, the Daily Mail reported. She said Roger had been preparing for the voyage for many years, and as an engineer had been meticulous in his attention to detail and was extremely safety conscious.
She said that Roger Pratt had been preparing for the long voyage for many years, and as an engineer had been meticulous in his attention to detail and was extremely safety conscious. "They had gained deep sea sailing experience by cruising extensively on the south coast and around Europe. To sail across the Atlantic and explore the Caribbean was Roger's dream," she said. "They were both experienced sailors and had sailed dinghies and keel boats since they were children. It is a tragic, shattering end to their dream."
She said: "They had gained deep sea sailing experience by cruising extensively on the south coast and around Europe. To sail across the Atlantic and explore the Caribbean was Roger's dream. Riley said her sister was discharged from hospital on Sunday night and had returned to the yacht.
"They were both experienced sailors and had sailed dinghies and keel boats since they were children. It is a tragic, shattering end to their dream." Police were continuing to investigate events.
Riley said her sister was discharged from hospital on Sunday night and has returned to the couple's yacht. St Lucia police said officers were called to reports of a robbery on the Pratts' yacht, the Magnetic Attraction, while moored in Vieux Fort at about midnight.
Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate events as officers released more details about the incident. "Officers received information three armed men had boarded the vessel, and attacked and injured the occupants before they fled," a statement said. "Within minutes of the robbers fleeing, Margaret went in search of her husband and found him floating in the nearby waters. Roger was retrieved and transported to St Jude hospital via ambulance along with his wife."
St Lucia police said officers were called to reports of a robbery on the Pratts' yacht, the Magnetic Attraction, while moored in Vieux Fort on the island's south coast at about midnight. Roger was pronounced dead on arrival and a postmortem examination was due to be carried out on Monday.
"Officers received information three armed men had boarded the vessel, and attacked and injured the occupants before they fled," a statement said. "Within minutes of the robbers fleeing, Margaret went in search of her husband and found him floating in the nearby waters. Three men have been detained..
"Roger was retrieved and transported to St Jude Hospital via ambulance along with his wife." Neighbours of the Pratts in Moreton Paddox, near Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, expressed shock and disbelief at the news.
Roger Pratt was pronounced dead on arrival while Margaret Pratt was discharged after treatment. Lavinia O'Shaughnessy, who has known the couple for 15 years, said: "I just feel really upset because for something like that to happen to people who are so very nice is terrible – I wanted them to come back.
Three men have been detained. A postmortem is due to be carried out on Monday. "They were going on a journey on their boat, sailing around the world. They rented their house out a few months ago, then went off sailing."
Neighbours of the Pratts in the hamlet of Moreton Paddox near Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, expressed shock and disbelief at the news, describing the couple as friendly and keen sailors. O'Shaughnessy said: "Margaret was very friendly – she'd pick me up at the end of the road to give me a lift into town if she saw me, she was that sort of person. She was very into her work."
Lavinia O'Shaughnessy, who has known the couple 15 years, said: "I just feel really upset because for something like that to happen to people who are so very nice is terrible - I wanted them to come back. The couple are listed as the directors of management consultants Okra Associates, while Margaret had previously worked as chief executive of St Mary's Hospital and Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust and director of finance at Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust.
She added: "They were going on a journey on their boat, sailing around the world. They rented their house out a few months ago, then went off sailing." A man who lives near the couple's house said the Pratts had a passion for sailing, and had spent a great deal of time on the coast preparing the boat for their trip.
O'Shaughnessy said: "Margaret was very friendly - she'd pick me up at the end of the road to give me a lift into town if she saw me, she was that sort of person. He said: "I remember talking to Roger about the boat … sailing was their hobby, it was a real passion for them.
"She was very into her work." "I think it was May last year when Roger came around to the house to say goodbye and that they were off on their journey. I said to Roger 'I hope you have a good trip, and I wish you every success', and it's such a shame."
Both Roger and Margaret Pratt are listed as the directors of management consultants Okra Associates, while she has previously worked as chief executive of St Mary's Hospital and Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust and director of finance at Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust. In a statement on Sunday, the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club said it was "stunned and saddened" to hear of the death of Roger, one of its members, and offered its condolences to the family. Prayers were also said for the couple at the parish church.
Another couple who live a few doors from the couple's house said they had a passion for sailing, and had spent a great deal of time on the coast getting the boat prepared for their trip. The Pratts set off on their journey from Lowestoft in July last year, keeping family and friends updated via an online blog.
He said: "I remember talking to Roger about the boat and he mentioned that it was steel hulled," he said. According to a blogpost, the couple had been preparing to set out on the next stage of their journey from the island's western harbour town of Soufriere on Thursday, but instead sailed farther south to Fort Vieux because of a hold-up with port officials.
"Sailing was their hobby, it was a real passion for them. A few days earlier on 10 January, Margaret posted an entry and photos of her birthday celebrations, including dinner with friends, and said she was having "a blissful time".
"I think it was May last year when Roger came around to the house to say goodbye and that they were off on their journey. A blogpost from November showed the couple were alert to dangers, with Roger attending a boating seminar in the Canary Islands on the risks of piracy.
"I said to Roger 'I hope you have a good trip, and I wish you every success', and it's such a shame."
In a statement on Sunday, the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club said it was "stunned and saddened" to hear of the death of Roger Pratt, one of its members, offering its sincere condolences to the family.
Prayers were also said for the couple at the parish church.
Roger and Margaret Pratt, who were both highly experienced sailors, set off on their global journey from Lowestoft in July last year, keeping family and friends back home updated on their progress through an online blog.
According to the blog, the couple had been preparing to set out on the next stage of their journey from the island's western harbour town of Soufriere on Thursday, but instead sailed farther south to Fort Vieux because of an administration hold-up with port officials.
A few days earlier on 10 January, Margaret Pratt posted an entry and photos of her birthday celebrations, including dinner with friends, and said she was having "a blissful time".
A blog entry from last November also shows the couple were alert to the dangers of the high seas, with Roger Pratt attending a boating seminar in the Canary Islands on the risks of piracy.