A massive search and rescue operation has been launched for a British woman whose boyfriend said she may have fallen off the catamaran moored in the US Virgin Islands.
Sarm Heslop, 41, of Southampton, was last seen Sunday night aboard the 47-foot Siren Song, which was moored in Frank Bay, St. Louis. John, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News.
His friend raised the alarm the next day after he woke up and realized he was nowhere to be found, U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said.
The unidentified man said he and Heslop had gone to bed around 10pm on Sunday and that “at two in the morning he woke up and realized she was not on board,” Castrodad said.
“He claimed his belongings remained on board the ship, up to the mobile phone, shoes and purse,” Castrodad added.
The light catamaran boat was still moored.
Police and divers have conducted an extensive search of the missing woman, including conducting drift tests from the boat, which is said to be anchored about 50 meters from shore, according to the Daily News.
The boat units “started a superficial search of the shoreline, adjacent islands and all the water around and in the sea from where the ship was located,” Castrodad said.
In addition, he said, “we had a Coast Guard helicopter searching that afternoon and the search continued throughout the night. The conditions were excellent in terms of visibility, the state of the sea and there were no signs of anyone in the water.
Castrodad added that there was no evidence to suggest that Heslop entered the water.
A friend of the missing woman told the Telegraph: “We heard that Sarm’s phone, passport and all his belongings were left on the boat, where he lived with his boyfriend.
“It simply came to our notice then. We call for an urgent and thorough investigation into this incident, as her housewives are devastated and only need her disappearance to be a top priority, ”the friend said from the UK.
“We want to thank the entire local community for their support in the search for Sarm in both water and land,” he added. “They’ve been so amazing, but we urge them not to give up until we find her or have more information.”
Local police spokesman Toby Derima told the Telegraph that volunteers also toured the area around Cruz Bay during the day.
“Unfortunately, that effort was not successful,” he said.
The catamaran, owned by Heslop’s partner, is being rented out to rent to guests who tour the islands for about £ 5,000 (about $ 7,000) a week, Sun reported.
Heslop, who had previously worked as a flight attendant, has been living in the area since early 2020, according to the outlet.
She is described as 5 feet and 7 inches tall, thin and with a tattoo on her left shoulder.