SOMERSET NEWS: Devastating news for families of missing sailors

HOPES of finding alive four British sailors – including two from Somerset – who have been missing in the North Atlantic for over a week have taken a devastating blow.

The US Coast Guard confirmed yesterday (May 23, 2014) that it had found the upturned hull of the 40ft Cheeki Rafiki yacht.

Families of the missing crewmen had been pinning their hopes on their loved ones having made off in a life raft.

But the Coast Guard has also announced that the life raft was still attached to the yacht and there were no signs of the crew.

PHOTO - TOP: The US Coast Guard released this picture of the upturned hull of the Cheeki Rafiki.

PHOTO - RIGHT: The four missing sailors (from left James Male, Andrew Bridge, Steve Warren and Paul Goslin.

The US Coast Guard finished its search for the missing crew at midnight and the RAF has also said that it will now no longer look following the discovery of the life raft.

The two Somerset crewmen were Paul Goslin, 56, of West Camel, and 52-year-old Steve Warren from Bridgwater. The other members of the crew were skipper Andrew Bridge, 22, of Surrey, and James Male, also 22, from Hampshire.

A spokesman for the US Coast Guard said: “We can confirm the life raft aboard the capsized sailing vessel Cheeki Rafiki was secured in its storage space – indicating it was not used for emergency purposes.”

The Cheeki Rafiki was on its way back to England having taken part in a regatta in Antigua, but the crew first reported that they were getting into difficulties on Thursday, May 15, 2014.

PHOTO - The upturned hull of the Cheeki Rafiki. Photo courtesy of US Coast Guard.

The families of the missing sailors have been told of the latest devastating developments.

Mr Warren’s family have issued a statement in which they have thanked the US Coast Guard for leading an “exceptional search.”

“We are very sad that the US has now suspended the search for Stephen and his friends,” they said.

“From the beginning we, together with the other families involved, have continued to hold out hope that he would be found alive.

“This is now an incredibly difficult time for all the family. We would therefore request that we are given privacy to come to terms with today’s decision.”

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