Final two Brits killed in Egyptian dive boat blaze are named
The final two Britons who died after a diving boat burst into flames in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt have been named as Stephen Hill and Paul Darling.
It comes after the third British victim was identified as hospice worker Christina Quinn, 58, who spent her life working in the NHS.
The three Britons had been inside their cabin rooms on board the medium-sized scuba diving boat, called ‘Hurricane’, when the vessel went up in flames on Sunday morning due to a suspected electrical fault.
Scuba Travel, which operates trips on the Hurricane, said the three tourists had decided to sleep in on the morning of the fire rather than go diving with the rest of 12 divers onboard, meaning they were unable to evacuate quickly.
The tour boat company confirmed that Mr Hill and Mr Darling were victims of the tragedy, a day after St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth paid tribute to their chief executive Ms Quinn. Her colleagues said she ‘will be missed beyond words’.
The final two Britons who died after a diving boat burst into flames (pictured on June 11) in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt have been named as Stephen Hill and Paul Darling
It comes after the third British victim was identified as hospice worker Christina Quinn (pictured)
The Britons were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were on board the vessel for a week-long trip when the fire broke out off the coast of Marsa Alam on Sunday morning at 8am (6.30am UK time).
Egyptian officials said at the time that 12 crew members and 12 divers were rescued, with footage showing some onboard leaping from the burning vessel and swimming towards the rescue vessel.
Ms Quinn, Mr Hill and Mr Darling had decided to sleep in on the morning of the fire, while the other divers who were above-deck managed to escape, a spokesperson for Scuba Travel said.
In a statement released by the hospice, a spokesperson for Ms Quinn said: ‘It is with great sadness that we confirm the tragic death of Christina Quinn in Egypt. She was a sister, daughter, wife, aunty, friend, and rock to many.
‘She will be missed beyond words. We would ask for privacy at this time.’
Ms Quinn took up her role as chief executive at St Luke’s in May this year following a ‘long and impactful’ career with the NHS, most recently as director of NHS South West Leadership Academy.
Charles Hackett, chairman of St Luke’s trustees, said: ‘Christina was incredibly passionate about St Luke’s and its place at the heart of the community it serves, and we are devastated to lose her warmth, wisdom and leadership.
The fire had broken out on the Hurricane boat off the coast of Marsa Alam
‘Before her recent appointment, Christina had served for six years in a voluntary capacity as chair of St Luke’s board, working closely with the senior management team and her fellow trustees and earning their respect, trust and appreciation.
‘With her vibrant and engaging personality and her down to earth, caring nature, as CEO she was quickly building strong and meaningful relationships both inside and outside the organisation.
‘We will miss Christina enormously and our hearts go out to her family and close friends at this tragic time.’
Scuba Travel confirmed that the three British tourists had chosen not to go diving that day, meaning they were unable to quickly evacuate the burning vessel.
Investigators confirmed that the three had been found in the deck in their cabins, which sources said was next to the fuel tank, after failing to escape the intense blaze.
A spokesperson for Scuba Travel said: ‘It is with great regret that we, as tour operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, perished in the tragic incident.
‘Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.’
The statement added: ‘At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning.’
This is the heart-stopping moment a passengers jump from an Egyptian tourist boat engulfed by flames
Footage of the fire shared on social media shows the boat being transformed into a floating inferno as its stern was engulfed by flames.
Black smoke flumes from the rear off the boat as it travelled through the Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea.
Terrified passengers are seen throwing themselves from the ship, which was carrying 29 people on board at the time, escaping the vessel after a suspected electrical fault in the engine room.
In total, 26 passengers were rescued, 12 British and the other 14 are thought to be Egyptian. Local police said the people rescued had no injuries and were in good health.
Egyptian authorities had earlier said that following an initial examination of the vessel it was found that ‘an electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine room sparked the blaze’.
The British Foreign Office has been approached for comment.