Final two Brits killed in Egyptian dive boat blaze are named

The last two Britons to die after a submarine caught fire in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt are named Stephen Hill and Paul Darling.

It comes after the third British victim was identified as hospice worker Christina Quinn, 58, who has spent her life working in the NHS.

The three Britons were in their cabins aboard the medium-sized submarine, dubbed ‘Hurricane’, when the ship went up in flames on Sunday morning due to a suspected electrical fault.

Scuba Travel, which organizes 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 the 12 divers on board, meaning they couldn’t get out anytime soon. evacuate.

The tour company confirmed Mr Hill and Mr Darling were victims of the tragedy, a day after St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth paid tribute to their CEO, Ms Quinn. Her colleagues said she “will be missed beyond words.”

It comes after the third British victim was identified as hospice worker Christina Quinn (pictured)

The British were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts aboard the vessel for a week-long voyage when the fire broke out off the coast of Marsa Alam at 8am (6.30am UK time) on Sunday morning.

Egyptian officials at the time said 12 crew members and 12 divers had been rescued, with footage of some on board jumping from the burning ship and swimming to the rescue vessel.

Mrs. Quinn, Mr. Hill and Mr. Darling had decided to sleep in on the morning of the fire. while the other divers managed to escape above deck, a spokesman for Scuba Travel said.

In a statement from 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, aunt, friend and rock to many.

“She will be missed beyond words. We would ask for privacy at this time.”

Ms Quinn took up the position of chief executive at St Luke’s in May this year following a ‘long and distinguished’ career in the NHS, most recently as director of the NHS South West Leadership Academy.

Charles Hackett, chair 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

“Prior to her recent appointment, Christina served as a voluntary Chair of the St. Luke’s Board of Directors for six years, working closely with the senior management team and her fellow trustees, earning their respect, trust and appreciation.

“With her vibrant and engaging personality and down-to-earth, caring nature, she quickly built strong and meaningful relationships as CEO, both inside and outside the organization.

“We will miss Christina immensely and our hearts go out to her family and close friends at this tragic time.”

Scuba Travel confirmed that the three British tourists had opted not to dive that day, preventing them from quickly evacuating the burning ship.

Investigators confirmed that the three had been found on deck in their cabins, which sources say were next to the fuel tank, after failing to escape the intense blaze.

A spokesman for Scuba Travel said: ‘It is with great regret that we, as a tour operator, have to accept with a heavy heart that three of our highly valued diving guests have died 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 taking part in an onboard briefing, with those missing apparently deciding not to dive that morning.”

This is the heartbreaking moment when a passenger jumps out of an Egyptian tourist boat engulfed in flames

Footage of the blaze shared on social media shows the boat being transformed into a floating inferno as the stern was engulfed in flames.

Black smoke billows from the back of the boat as it passes through the Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea.

Terrified passengers jump off the ship, which was carrying 29 people on board at the time, and escape the ship after a suspected electrical fault in the engine room.

A total of 26 passengers were rescued, 12 were British and the other 14 were believed to be Egyptians. Local police said the rescued people had no injuries and are in good health.

Egyptian authorities had previously said that after an initial examination of the ship, it was found that “an electrical short circuit in the ship’s engine room caused the fire.”

The British Foreign Office has been approached for comment.