A British father told of his relief as his family were finally reunited after being split up on the stricken Greek ferry.

Former film and advertising manager Marcus Gondolo-Gordon was on his way to a skiing holiday with his wife and two young daughters when disaster struck on board yesterday morning.

The car ferry caught fire in the Adriatic Sea killing ten people and injuring dozens as helicopter crews battled stormy conditions overnight to winch passengers way from the Norman Atlantic.

Marcus Gondolo-Gordon was making his way to a skiing holiday with his family when the ferry caught fire

Mr Gondolo-Gordon's youngest daughter, five-year-old Seraphina, was separated from the family and airlifted to hospital on her own on Sunday night after she began suffering from hypothermia.

She had not managed to collect her coat from the cabin before they had to rush on deck and her body temperature quickly dropped.

His wife, Mia, and eldest daughter, Phaedra, were later taken to land by boat, but Mr Gondolo-Gordon was left on the burning vessel overnight as rescuers followed the convention of women and children first.

He was finally rescued this morning and immediately went to collect his youngest child, who was being treated in the Southern Italian city of Brindisi.

The burnt-out ferry, pictured earlier today, as the rescue mission continued. So far, ten people have died and dozens were injured after it caught alight

Marcus Gondolo-Gordon and his wife Mia with their daughter Phaedra, aged 22 months. The family were separated from their youngest daughter (not pictured) after she was airlifted to hospital last night

‘I’ve just picked up my daughter from hospital,' he told the Daily Mail. ‘It’s been an ordeal but thankfully we are all safe and well.’

He described conditions on board as ‘cold and wet.’

Mr Gondolo-Gordon left London in 2004 to live in Corfu with his wife, who had grown up on the island.

He now runs luxury real estate business, Ionian International, while his wife writes a blog about life on Corfu.

His stepmother Margaret Gondolo-Gordon, 67, said: ‘We have only heard through the family that he's okay, he's off.

‘And the children are alright. The little one was split up, but they've all got together again.

‘I don't understand as yet how or why but they found her and she's in hospital and they're alright.’

The rescue operation ended at lunchtime today, with 427 survivors taken to safety from the burning ferry.

Inspection: The Norman Atlantic (pictured) was examined by the international maritime authority Paris MoU just 10 days ago and found to have faulty fire doors, too few life rafts and poor emergency lighting

A person being lifted onto an Italian navy helicopter as the car ferry burns in waters off Greece yesterday

An injured passenger is transported to hospital in the Italian port city of Bari after being rescued

This evening the Italian coast guard said the total death toll for the disaster had risen to ten, adding that they they are checking to see if anyone else might still be missing.

The coast guard announced the new death toll on its Twitter feed, and did not give details of where the bodies were found.

Italy's transport minister, Maurizio Lupi, said the total of 427 people included all 56 crew members.

The original manifest listed 478 passengers and crew, with officials earlier saying they are unable to immediately explain why only 435 individuals had been accounted for.

Lupi said it was premature to speculate on whether people were still missing, but suggested that there might have been some people who reserved a spot on the ferry but did not board.

An official said that among the survivors, there were also people not listed on the manifest, indicating the possibility that some on board were traveling illegally.

Italian officials have launched an investigation to establish whether the fire started in one of the many lorries transporting olive oil from Greece to Italy

Italian officials have launched an investigation to establish whether the fire started in one of the many lorries transporting olive oil from Greece to Italy

It was also revealed today that the car ferry was found to have serious safety flaws during an inspection just 10 days ago.

The vessel was examined by the international maritime authority Paris MoU earlier this month and found to have faulty fire doors, too few life rafts and poor emergency lighting.

Operated by Greek shipping company Anek Lines, the ferry was also criticized over its plans for how to handle passengers in the event of an emergency.

The revelations raised serious questions over whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

Italian officials have launched an investigation to establish whether the fire started in one of the many lorries transporting olive oil from Greece to Italy.