Britons safe after tourist boat sinks killing 13

A newlywed British couple is said to have been safely rescued after the craft capsized in a storm on the Caribbean Sea.

TAGS: Boat accident sunk

A small boat travelling between islands off the coast of Nicaragua has sunk, killing 13 holidaymakers on board.

A British couple, Edward and Charlotte Beckett, were travelling on the tourist boat when it capsized and were safely rescued along with two Americans, three Nicaraguans and 12 Costa Rican tourists.

All 13 who died were reported to have been Costa Rican nationals, and most were women.

A Foreign Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: “We are in contact with the local authorities after the sinking of a passenger boat between Corn Island and Little Corn Island in the Caribbean Sea and are providing consular assistance to affected British Nationals.”

The Reina del Caribe, or Caribbean Queen in English, reportedly capsized in heavy rain and high winds while making the 2.5 mile passage between the two islands.

A Nicaraguan naval officer has been quoted as saying the boat’s captain and owner were in custody because the vessel had not been given necessary permission to sail.

Local authorities had reportedly stopped boat travel in the area due to 25- to 30-knot winds. Situated some 43 miles off Nicaragua’s southeastern coast, the relatively remote islands have experienced several days of stormy weather.

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