British Royal Navy helicopter rescued a woman and two children from vessel but fourth person is ‘missing, presumed dead’, according to US Coast Guard

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A British man has died after a boat capsized off Puerto Rico near the island of Vieques, as Hurricane Maria swept across the region.

The US Coast Guard in Miami said a British Royal Navy helicopter hoisted a woman and two children from the overturned vessel on Thursday.

A distress call had been sent from the boat on Wednesday, stating it was disabled and adrift in seas and facing six-metre waves (20ft) and 100mph winds.

The man has not been named and the coastguard said his body has not been recovered because it “inaccessible to search and rescue crews” under the boat.

US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Peter Brown said: “We initially got the call, a vessel in distress, a family of four, north of St Croix, literally in the teeth of a hurricane. We were obviously concerned. We didn’t ask their names and didn’t ask why they were out there.”

The crew of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mounts Bay helped in the rescue of the three people off the island of Vieques.

Commanding officer Cpt Steve Norris said: “My ship and crew demonstrated exceptional teamwork today to save these lives, and I am immensely grateful to them all for their efforts in this operation.

“It is with regret that we understand that a fourth individual at the scene is missing, presumed dead. Our thoughts go out to their family at this difficult time.”

Local media reported earlier on Friday that they believed a British man was trapped inside the boat and died before the others were rescued. US Coast Guard footage shows three people stranded on the capsized vessel and desperately waving for help before being winched to safety.

Hurricane Maria has moved across the Caribbean over the past few days, claiming the lives of at least 19 people so far, with many others missing. It made landfall in Puerto Rico at 11.15am BST in the south-east coastal town of Yabucoa and is the strongest storm in more than 80 years to sweep across the country – flattening homes and plunging the island into darkness after taking down power lines.

Gov Ricardo Rossello said: “We have not experienced an event of this magnitude in our modern history.”

The governor’s spokesperson added: “This is total devastation. Puerto Rico, in terms of the infrastructure, will not be the same. This is something of historic proportions.”

US president Donald Trump said Hurricane Maria is a “monster”, and that “Our hearts are with [Puerto Ricans].”