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Norman Atlantic ferry fire: All UK passengers rescued | |
(35 minutes later) | |
All Britons aboard a ferry which caught fire near Greece have been rescued, along with all other passengers, the Italian Coast Guard has said. | |
The Norman Atlantic was travelling from Greece to Italy on Sunday when the fire broke out. | |
Those aboard included a British family of four and an engaged couple. | |
The family of Nick Channing-Williams, 37, who is a showjumper, said they were "extremely relieved" to hear of his rescue. | |
The Italian car ferry was travelling from Patras, in Greece, to Ancona, in Italy with 422 passengers and 56 crew members on board when a fire broke out on its car deck, north-west of Corfu. | The Italian car ferry was travelling from Patras, in Greece, to Ancona, in Italy with 422 passengers and 56 crew members on board when a fire broke out on its car deck, north-west of Corfu. |
Five people are now confirmed to have died, according to the Greek coastguard. Their nationalities have not yet been confirmed. | Five people are now confirmed to have died, according to the Greek coastguard. Their nationalities have not yet been confirmed. |
The Italian navy said 363 of the 478 people on board had been evacuated by early Monday. | The Italian navy said 363 of the 478 people on board had been evacuated by early Monday. |
Susan Daltas, who lives in Corfu, said four members of her British family had been on the stricken boat. She told BBC Breakfast she believed that women and children had been taken off first. | |
Her son-in-law, Marcus, spoke to Mrs Daltas from the ferry on Sunday evening after her daughter, Mia, and her two granddaughters had been airlifted to safety. | Her son-in-law, Marcus, spoke to Mrs Daltas from the ferry on Sunday evening after 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. | 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," she 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," she said. |
The girl's mother and sister were on one of the rescue boats, said Mrs Daltas. | The girl's mother and sister were on one of the rescue boats, said Mrs Daltas. |
Her son-in-law was not able to tell her much about conditions on board, other than to say it was "cold and wet" and that he wanted to be reunited with his family. | Her son-in-law was not able to tell her much about conditions on board, other than to say it was "cold and wet" and that he wanted to be reunited with his family. |
Mr Channing-Williams, who lives in Greece, is a competitive show jumper and trains young riders. | 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 Greek fiancee Regina Theoffili, who has now been rescued and taken to hospital. | He was on the boat with his 33-year-old Greek fiancee Regina Theoffili, who has now been rescued and taken to hospital. |
His mother Dottie Channing-Williams, from Berkshire, told BBC Breakfast the wait was "just a rollercoaster, up and down". | |
Mrs Channing-Williams said her son had been intending to spend New Year's Eve with her later this week and added: "I just hope they're both going to be okay and we can put this behind us." | Mrs Channing-Williams said her son had been intending to spend New Year's Eve with her later this week and added: "I just hope they're both going to be okay and we can put this behind us." |
She said she spoke to her son on Sunday morning, who told her he had been on the ship's top deck "in the freezing cold and rain and thunder and lightning". | |
British ambassador to Greece John Kittmer said the embassy was in "close contact" with the Greek authorities and was urgently seeking more information". | |
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said it remained "in close touch with the Italian authorities". | |