A 73-year-old British sailor remains missing after his yacht was discovered “eviscerated” in stormy waters off the southwestern coast of France, maritime authorities have reported.
The sailor activated his distress beacon on Saturday while navigating approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Lacanau, according to a statement from the Préfecture maritime de l’Atlantique, a French government maritime agency.
A French air force helicopter was deployed to the scene and located the remains of the sailor’s 12-meter vessel, the Tiger PA, in the Bay of Biscay.
Divers dispatched to the wreckage found an empty raft but no sign of the sailor, officials stated.
Efforts to locate the man involved a Portuguese cargo ship, a Spanish hospital vessel, and the French navy, all of which joined the search.
Despite their extensive efforts, the operation was suspended early Sunday morning “due to a lack of information,” the agency said.
The Tiger PA was first flagged as a concern on Friday evening when it failed to respond to radio communications.
Later, a Portuguese cargo ship managed to establish contact with the sailor, who confirmed he was safe at that time, the Préfecture maritime de l’Atlantique noted.
The incident occurred during Storm Herminia, which was named by Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) on Friday.
The storm unleashed heavy rain and powerful winds, lashing northern Spain and western France. Gusts exceeded 62mph, and flooding submerged vehicles and buildings in parts of western France.
In their statement, the Préfecture maritime de l’Atlantique urged seafarers to exercise extreme caution during such hazardous weather conditions.
