The UK Foreign Office is providing support to the family of a British woman, Millie Young after a scuba diving tour boat reportedly capsized off the coast of Thailand.
The incident occurred near Ko Torinla island in the Andaman Sea, where Millie Young, 57, reportedly from Brighton, and a female Thai crew member went missing. The tour was organized by the Sawan Tour company, and there were approximately 18 passengers on board, with 16 having been rescued.
Officials have launched a search and rescue operation, employing inflatable boats and a helicopter as part of their efforts, according to local news website Khaosod. Strong currents in the area have led authorities to believe that the missing pair may have been swept up to 111 kilometres away from the boat, which is known as the “Reggae Queen.”
Rear Admiral Pongmit Narongkul, the navy chief leading the search, explained, “The wind in the area is quite strong, which is an obstacle to the search. There are cargo and fishing ships in the area, and they have been instructed to continue searching at night until the missing people are found.”
Ko Torinla island is located within the Surin Islands National Park, an archipelago consisting of five islands approximately 55 kilometres from the mainland of Thailand.