A major search and rescue operation has been launched for a British woman whose boyfriend said she may have fallen off her catamaran anchored in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to reports.
Sarm Heslop, 41, of Southampton, was last seen on Sunday night aboard the 47-foot Siren Song, which was moored in Frank Bay, St. John, the Virgin Islands Daily News reported.
Her boyfriend raised the alarm the next day after waking up and realizing that she was nowhere to be found, United States Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad told the news agency.
The unidentified man said that he and Heslop went to bed around 10 pm on Sunday and that “at 2 am he woke up and realized that she was not on board,” said Castrodad.
“He said that her belongings were still on board the ship, such as her cell phone, shoes and bag,” added Castrodad.
The catamaran boat was still tied up.
Police and divers organized an extensive search for the missing woman, including drift analyzes of the ship, which was reportedly anchored about 150 feet offshore, the Daily News reported.
The boat units “initiated a surface search on the coast, on the adjacent islands and in all the waters around and to the sea where the ship was located,” said Castrodad.
In addition, he said, “we had a Coast Guard helicopter searching that afternoon and the search continued into the night. The conditions were excellent with regard to visibility, state of the sea and there was no sign 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 belongings were left on the boat, where she lived with her boyfriend.
“It would not simply disappear, leaving no trace. We are asking for an urgent and thorough investigation into this incident, as her friends here at home are devastated and just need her disappearance to be a critical priority, ”said the friend from the United Kingdom.
“We would like to thank the entire local community for their support in the search for Sarm in both water and land,” she added. “They have been so incredible, but we ask that you do not give up until she is found or we have more information.”
Local police spokesman Toby Derima told the Telegraph that the volunteers also searched the area around Cruz Bay during the day.
“Unfortunately, this effort was unsuccessful,” he said.
The catamaran, owned by Heslop’s partner, is rented to chartered guests that she takes on a tour of the islands for about £ 5,000 – about $ 7,000 – a week, Sun reported.
Heslop, who has worked as a flight attendant, has lived 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.