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| Missing yacht: Jeremy Hunt joins calls for search to resume | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt has joined calls for the US Coastguard to continue searching for four Britons who are missing after their boat apparently capsized in the Atlantic Ocean. | |
| Health Secretary Mr Hunt, the MP for one of the men, tweeted that it was too soon to give up. | |
| A petition urging authorities in the US to continue the search has amassed more than 113,000 signatures. | A petition urging authorities in the US to continue the search has amassed more than 113,000 signatures. |
| The US Coastguard called off its search early on Sunday morning. | The US Coastguard called off its search early on Sunday morning. |
| Contact with the 40ft Cheeki Rafiki yacht was lost on Friday after it got into difficulties 620 miles (1,000km) east of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. | Contact with the 40ft Cheeki Rafiki yacht was lost on Friday after it got into difficulties 620 miles (1,000km) east of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. |
| A spokesman for the US Coastguard said it believed the men could have survived for around 20 hours after "time of distress". | A spokesman for the US Coastguard said it believed the men could have survived for around 20 hours after "time of distress". |
| The four crew members are Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham, Surrey; Steve Warren, 52, also from Somerset, and 23-year-old James Male, from Southampton. | The four crew members are Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham, Surrey; Steve Warren, 52, also from Somerset, and 23-year-old James Male, from Southampton. |
| 'Don't stop looking' | 'Don't stop looking' |
| The men were sailing back from a regatta in Antigua when the boat began taking on water and diverted to the Azores. | The men were sailing back from a regatta in Antigua when the boat began taking on water and diverted to the Azores. |
| The family of Mr Bridge, the captain of the Cheeki Rafiki, are constituents of Mr Hunt, the MP for South West Surrey. | The family of Mr Bridge, the captain of the Cheeki Rafiki, are constituents of Mr Hunt, the MP for South West Surrey. |
| Mr Hunt tweeted: "Desperate 4 families of missing yachtsmen, one from Farnham. I know US Coastguard has done masses but pls don't stop looking. 2 soon 2 give up." | Mr Hunt tweeted: "Desperate 4 families of missing yachtsmen, one from Farnham. I know US Coastguard has done masses but pls don't stop looking. 2 soon 2 give up." |
| The families of the sailors believe the men escaped into a life raft. | The families of the sailors believe the men escaped into a life raft. |
| The US Coastguard said locator beacons activated by the crew indicated they were in a position 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts on Friday morning. | The US Coastguard said locator beacons activated by the crew indicated they were in a position 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts on Friday morning. |
| The yacht was facing 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F), the US Coastguard said. | The yacht was facing 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F), the US Coastguard said. |
| On Saturday, a cargo vessel which was helping with the search spotted and photographed an overturned hull which matched the description of the Cheeki Rafiki. | On Saturday, a cargo vessel which was helping with the search spotted and photographed an overturned hull which matched the description of the Cheeki Rafiki. |
| But when he called off the hunt on Sunday, Capt Anthony Popiel said: "Based on the extreme conditions at sea, but assuming best-case emergency equipment, the estimated survival time past the time of distress was approximately 20 hours. Crews searched for 53 hours." | But when he called off the hunt on Sunday, Capt Anthony Popiel said: "Based on the extreme conditions at sea, but assuming best-case emergency equipment, the estimated survival time past the time of distress was approximately 20 hours. Crews searched for 53 hours." |
| And a further spokesman for the coastguard said on Monday that unless there were "new developments about the case" the search would not be resumed. | And a further spokesman for the coastguard said on Monday that unless there were "new developments about the case" the search would not be resumed. |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are in continual contact with the US Coastguard and are providing consular assistance to the families." | A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We are in continual contact with the US Coastguard and are providing consular assistance to the families." |
| On Monday yachtsman Paul Goslin's daughter Claire made a heartfelt appeal to the US Coastguard to continue looking. | On Monday yachtsman Paul Goslin's daughter Claire made a heartfelt appeal to the US Coastguard to continue looking. |
| Miss Goslin, a second-year nursing student at Plymouth University, thanked the coastguard for their "fantastic" work so far. | Miss Goslin, a second-year nursing student at Plymouth University, thanked the coastguard for their "fantastic" work so far. |
| "But I know what Dad's like," she added. "He will be doing anything in his power to make sure he and his fellow three crew mates are safe. | "But I know what Dad's like," she added. "He will be doing anything in his power to make sure he and his fellow three crew mates are safe. |
| "Don't give up; they need your help." | "Don't give up; they need your help." |
| She said she had been told by the yacht's owners Stormforce Coaching the life raft was designed for 12 people so would have had plenty of space and provisions for her father and the three other men. | She said she had been told by the yacht's owners Stormforce Coaching the life raft was designed for 12 people so would have had plenty of space and provisions for her father and the three other men. |
| 'Rational thinking' | 'Rational thinking' |
| "Those beacons don't work if they're wet so we've got reasons to believe they're in the life raft because they're dry and they're together," Miss Goslin added. | "Those beacons don't work if they're wet so we've got reasons to believe they're in the life raft because they're dry and they're together," Miss Goslin added. |
| Mr Male's father told ITV Meridian: "They waited until the first beacon had run out before they actually set the second beacon - that's rational-thinking people." | Mr Male's father told ITV Meridian: "They waited until the first beacon had run out before they actually set the second beacon - that's rational-thinking people." |
| 'Starve to death' | 'Starve to death' |
| Andrew Bridge's mother Mary said: "I'm a bit numb, actually. We wanted him back. | Andrew Bridge's mother Mary said: "I'm a bit numb, actually. We wanted him back. |
| "We know they've worked hard for two days but my husband and I and my other son and the other families all wish them to resume the search for these four men." | "We know they've worked hard for two days but my husband and I and my other son and the other families all wish them to resume the search for these four men." |
| Mr Goslin's wife Cressida said the search should be resumed for a couple of days, adding: "We just feel that they're not being given a chance. | Mr Goslin's wife Cressida said the search should be resumed for a couple of days, adding: "We just feel that they're not being given a chance. |
| "If we don't try to rescue them we're just going to leave them to starve to death." | "If we don't try to rescue them we're just going to leave them to starve to death." |
| 'Extreme conditions' | 'Extreme conditions' |
| Three US and Canadian aircraft and three merchant vessels looked for the men on Friday and Saturday but called off the search on Sunday at 5am local time. | Three US and Canadian aircraft and three merchant vessels looked for the men on Friday and Saturday but called off the search on Sunday at 5am local time. |
| Television presenter Ben Fogle has also added his support, he said: "We've heard too many stories over the years of shipwrecked sailors found in tiny rafts. | Television presenter Ben Fogle has also added his support, he said: "We've heard too many stories over the years of shipwrecked sailors found in tiny rafts. |
| "If they don't have a beacon that's emitting, that doesn't mean they've perished." | "If they don't have a beacon that's emitting, that doesn't mean they've perished." |
| The 12-person life raft they are believed to have had on board would typically be 1.66m high and 3.3m across. | The 12-person life raft they are believed to have had on board would typically be 1.66m high and 3.3m across. |
| Alistair Hackett from suppliers Ocean Safety said it would have likely had one litre of water per person on board, as well as survival equipment like flares and thermal protective suits. | Alistair Hackett from suppliers Ocean Safety said it would have likely had one litre of water per person on board, as well as survival equipment like flares and thermal protective suits. |
| 'Highly unlikely' | 'Highly unlikely' |
| Kay Coombes, sister of Steve Warren, said: "They are four strong-minded, physically strong sailors, they knew they were in difficulties and had every opportunity to get into the life raft which would have had provisions for several days. | Kay Coombes, sister of Steve Warren, said: "They are four strong-minded, physically strong sailors, they knew they were in difficulties and had every opportunity to get into the life raft which would have had provisions for several days. |
| "But if no-one is looking for them, they won't be found." | "But if no-one is looking for them, they won't be found." |
| Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handedly around the world, said: "Knowing the US Coastguard, I do feel one's got to listen to them. | Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handedly around the world, said: "Knowing the US Coastguard, I do feel one's got to listen to them. |
| "They know more about this than anyone else." | "They know more about this than anyone else." |
| But he added: "Isn't it just worth just one more check, just to make sure?" | But he added: "Isn't it just worth just one more check, just to make sure?" |
| However, oceanographer Simon Boxall from University of Southampton said: "It is highly unlikely, beyond reasonable doubt, that they would have missed a life raft; they are bright red or bright orange. | However, oceanographer Simon Boxall from University of Southampton said: "It is highly unlikely, beyond reasonable doubt, that they would have missed a life raft; they are bright red or bright orange. |
| "And if the people were in a life raft and were aware there were rescue aircraft they would have had distress flares and beacons on board and they would have deployed them." | "And if the people were in a life raft and were aware there were rescue aircraft they would have had distress flares and beacons on board and they would have deployed them." |
| The Royal Yachting Association said typical supplies on a life raft would include survival suits, water, food, flares and a first aid kit. | The Royal Yachting Association said typical supplies on a life raft would include survival suits, water, food, flares and a first aid kit. |