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Stricken ferry: UK passenger Nick Channing-Williams contacts mother Ferry fire: UK passengers phone families from stricken boat
(about 3 hours later)
A British woman says she is anxiously waiting for news from her son who is caught on a stricken ferry off Greece. British families are anxiously waiting for news after relatives were caught on board a ferry fire near Greece.
Dotty Channing-Williams from Berkshire last spoke to her son Nick, 37, when he contacted her from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic on Sunday morning. A British family of four and an engaged couple were on the Norman Atlantic, which was travelling from Greece to Italy, when it caught fire.
He is one of two Britons on the ferry which is burning in high winds. Dotty Channing-Williams from Berkshire last spoke to her son Nick, 37, when he contacted her on Sunday morning.
Ships and helicopters are involved in a rescue operation and Greek and Italian officials say 161 of the 478 people on board have been taken off the boat. Susan Daltas said her son-in-law was on board when he rang her but her daughter and two grandchildren had been rescued.
An Italian Coast Guard official quoted by Associated Press says one person has died. The Norman Atlantic was travelling from Patras, in Greece, to Ancona, in Italy, when a fire broke out on its car deck.
The Norman Atlantic was travelling from Patras in Greece to Ancona in Italy when a fire broke out on its car deck. Ships and helicopters are taking part in a major rescue operation after an Italian ferry carrying 478 people caught fire north-west of Corfu.
British Ambassador to Greece John Kittmer said on Twitter the passenger manifest revealed that two UK nationals were on board. A total of 190 people have been rescued but more than 280 remain on the ferry, authorities have said.
"We are in close contact with the Greek authorities and are urgently seeking more information," he said. One person has died after jumping from the ship and another has been confirmed injured, officials say.
Mrs Daltas, who lives in Corfu, said she had managed to speak to her daughter on Sunday morning.
She told the BBC that she had since spoken to her son-in-law, Marcus, who was still on board the boat. He told Mrs Daltas that her daughter, Mia, and her two granddaughters had been airlifted to safety.
Her youngest granddaughter had been taken to hospital in the city of Brindisi, in southern Italy, Mrs Dalta said.
"She was suffering from hypothermia because they didn't even manage to get a coat out of the cabin before they had to go on deck, but apparently she's now sleeping.
"But she's on her own, the other two haven't got there yet. They're somewhere on a boat, going towards Brindisi," she added.
However, Mrs Daltas said she was now unable to contact her daughter.
'Freezing cold''Freezing cold'
Mr Channing-Williams, who lives in Greece, is a competitive show jumper and trains young riders. He was on the boat with his 33-year-old fiancee Regina Theoffili.Mr Channing-Williams, who lives in Greece, is a competitive show jumper and trains young riders. He was on the boat with his 33-year-old fiancee Regina Theoffili.
His mother told the Press Association: "It's hard, because I haven't heard anything for a long time now. His mother said: "It's hard, because I haven't heard anything for a long time now.
"They have cut communications because it was hampering the rescue operation.""They have cut communications because it was hampering the rescue operation."
She said her son last spoke to her at 11:00 GMT. She said she had last spoken to her son at 11:00 GMT.
"I told him it's just so difficult because there's no information. And he said, 'It's far more difficult here, because we've been on the top deck in the freezing cold and rain and thunder and lightning.'""I told him it's just so difficult because there's no information. And he said, 'It's far more difficult here, because we've been on the top deck in the freezing cold and rain and thunder and lightning.'"
Mrs Channing-Williams said her son had initially called her about 04:00 BST but said he had dialled her number by mistake. Mrs Channing-Williams said her son had initially called her in the early hours but told her he had dialled her number by mistake.
She added: "But as soon as I got up and saw the television news this morning, which was early, I knew. I knew straight away. I knew that he was on that ferry.She added: "But as soon as I got up and saw the television news this morning, which was early, I knew. I knew straight away. I knew that he was on that ferry.
"I know that he was in touch with the people in Greece and he said to them, 'Please don't tell my mum, because she'll be so worried'... And then he called me to let me know that he's okay." "I know that he was in touch with the people in Greece and he said to them, 'Please don't tell my mum, because she'll be so worried.' And then he called me to let me know that he's okay."
British Ambassador to Greece John Kittmer said the embassy was in "close contact" with the Greek authorities and was urgently seeking more information".