A couple on a mission to sail across the Atlantic Ocean have been tragically found dead in a lifeboat off the coast of Canada. Brett Clibbery and Sarah Packwood were discovered after their raft washed ashore on Sable Island, around 108 miles southeast of mainland Nova Scotia, according to local media reports.
It is believed that Ms. Packwood was from the UK and Mr. Clibbery was from Canada. However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police initially reported that both were from British Columbia. Formal identification of the bodies is yet to take place.
The couple had set sail from Halifax Harbour on June 11 aboard their yacht named Theros, heading towards the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. They were reported missing on June 18, and their lifeboat was found three weeks later on July 10.
In a heartfelt post on Facebook, Mr. Clibbery’s son, James, confirmed the tragic news of their deaths.
“The past few days have been very hard,” he wrote. “My father James Brett Clibbery, and his wife, Sarah Justine Packwood, have regrettably passed away. There is still an investigation, as well as a DNA test to confirm, but with all the news, it is hard to remain hopeful.
James Clibbery expressed deep sorrow, stating the couple would be “forever missed” and acknowledging the profound impact of their unexplained passing.
The couple had been documenting their journey from Canada to Europe through regular videos uploaded to their YouTube channel, Theros Adventures. They had dubbed their latest venture the “green odyssey,” highlighting the yacht’s eco-friendly power source, which included a battery from an electric Nissan Leaf car and six solar panels.
The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear, and authorities continue to investigate the incident.
This tragic event has left a void in the lives of their loved ones and the sailing community that followed their journey with admiration and hope.
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