A British man died and his family were plucked to safety by a Royal Navy helicopter after their pleasure boat overturned while sailing off Puerto Rico in the teeth of Hurricane Maria.

The 56-year-old Briton's wife, a 48-year-old Dominican, and their two 12-year-old sons were spotted on top of the capsized vessel waving desperately for help while he was trapped underneath.

It was believed the family had set sail from Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, which was battered by Hurricane Irma less than two weeks ago, and were trying to reach St Lucia.

Their vessel, the Ferrel, was a 133ft former survey ship sued by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It had been decommissioned in 2002 and recently converted into a pleasure 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 US Coast Guard in Miami said the Ferrel sent out an emergency position alert on Wednesday as Hurricane Maria approached Puerto Rico.