British eco researcher Sara King, 34, drowns in yacht tragedy near South Africa
A BRITISH eco researcher has drowned after a storm wrecked her yacht on a plastic pollution mission.
Sara King, 34, is believed to have become trapped in the sinking 48ft catamaran 240 miles off South Africa.
Rescuers scrambled to the scene and found her partner Jason Baker, 31, his friend James Elsworth, 33, and Sara’s dog Dax alive.
But efforts to revive Sara failed, leaving her distraught companions “shattered by grief” last night.
The adventurous trio and terrier-cross Dax were on a voyage backed by the University of Birmingham to study Indian Ocean plastic pollution.
Sara had been posting pictures and video of her trip on her Instagram page after setting sail from South Africa’s Port Alfred on Friday.
She said in her last video post: “Winds up — sails out. The highs and lows can make you scream — wild coast: you magnificent beast.”
South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute said the catamaran was hit by “a severe storm and massive surf” at around 3pm on Monday.
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The partially submerged vessel was spotted by a container ship. Officials were last night investigating how Sara, originally from Wiltshire, died.
A source close to the investigation said: “It’s the most awful tragedy that’s ended the life of a young woman who loved the world and had everything to live for.
“Sara was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Everyone who knew her will be beside themselves.”
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