A massive search and rescue operation has been launched for a British woman whose boyfriend said he could have fallen off their catamaran anchored on the US Virgin Islands, according to reports.
Sarm Heslop, 41, of Southampton, was last seen Sunday night aboard the 47-foot Siren Song, which was anchored in Frank Bay, St. Louis. John, the Virgin Islands Daily News reported.
Her young man sounded the alarm the day after he woke up and noticed he was nowhere to be found, US Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said.
The unidentified man said that he and Heslop slept on Sunday around 22:00 and that “at 2 o’clock he woke up and realized that he was not on board,” Castrodad said.
“He said her belongings were still on board, including her mobile phone, shoes and purse,” Castrodad added.
The catamaran rowing was still tied up.
Police and divers conducted an extensive search for the missing woman, including conducting drift tests on the vessel, which was reportedly anchored about 150 meters from shore, the Daily News reported.
The boat units “began a surface search of the shore, adjacent islands and all the waters around and from the sea where the ship was located,” Castrodad said.
In addition, he said, “I had a Coast Guard helicopter searching that afternoon and the search continued throughout the night. The conditions were excellent in terms of visibility, sea condition and there were no signs of anyone in the water. ”
Castrodad added that there is no evidence to suggest that Heslop entered the water.
A friend of the missing woman told the Telegraph: “I heard that Sarm’s phone, passport and all his belongings were left on the boat, where she lived with her boyfriend.
“It simply wouldn’t go away without a trace. We call for an urgent and thorough investigation into this incident, as her friends at home are devastated and only need her disappearance to become a critical priority, “said the friend from Great Britain.
“We would like to thank all the local community for their support in finding Sarm both on water and on land,” she added. “They were so amazing, but we urge them not to give up until she is found or if we have more information.”
Local police spokesman Toby Derima told the Telegraph that volunteers also crossed the area around Cruz Bay during the day.
“Unfortunately, this effort proved unsuccessful,” he said.
The catamaran, which is owned by partner Heslop, is being rented to hire guests on a tour of the islands for about £ 5,000 – about $ 7,000 – a week, Sun reported.
Heslop, who previously worked as a flight attendant, has been living in the area since early 2020, according to media reports.
She is described as 5 feet and 7 inches tall, thin and with a tattoo on her left shoulder.