Fatal Fire on Scuba Diving Boat in Egypt: Three British Citizens Among the Victims

Fatal Fire on Scuba Diving Boat in Egypt: Three British Citizens Among the Victims

…By Henry George for TDPel Media.

The three British citizens who lost their lives in a devastating boat fire in the Red Sea off Egypt have been identified as Christina Quinn, Stephen Hill, and Paul Darling.

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The incident occurred on Sunday when the medium-sized scuba diving boat named Hurricane caught fire, believed to be due to an electrical fault.

Scuba Travel, the company operating trips on the Hurricane, confirmed the identities of Mr. Hill and Mr. Darling as victims, while St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth paid tribute to Ms. Quinn, 58, who served as their chief executive.

Details of the Incident

Fifteen qualified diving enthusiasts, including the victims, were on board the boat for a week-long diving trip when the fire broke out around 8:30 am local time.

Fortunately, the divers who were above-deck managed to escape, but Ms. Quinn, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Darling, who had decided to sleep in, were trapped.

The spokesperson for Scuba Travel stated that an investigation into the fire’s cause is underway, suspecting an electrical fault.

Tributes to the Victims

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth released a statement honoring Christina Quinn’s memory and requested privacy for her family during this difficult time.

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Ms. Quinn had joined the hospice as chief executive in May 2023, following a successful career with the NHS.
Charles Hackett, chairman of St Luke’s trustees, expressed deep sadness and described her as a passionate leader who made significant contributions to the organization.
Scuba Travel also extended their heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims.Rescue Efforts and Cause of FireDuring the incident, a nearby vessel was utilized to evacuate 12 divers, while the 14 crew members had to abandon ship after trying to locate the missing guests.

Initial investigations by Egyptian authorities revealed that an electrical short circuit in the boat’s engine room triggered the blaze.

Response from British Foreign Office

The British Foreign Office has been approached for comment on the incident.

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