British husband searching for wife missing at sea in South Africa

A search is underway for a British man's wife who has gone missing at sea in South Africa.

Carly Hill's husband, Peter, the skipper and only other person aboard their boat, Oryx, alerted rescuers at 1.30pm on Friday, said National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesman Craig Lambinon.

According to the South African Independent Online, he said: "The skipper raised the alarm reporting that he had been asleep and when he awoke he found that his wife was missing off their yacht.

"Despite an initial search the skipper had found no sign of his wife."

According to the Telegraph, Lambinon said Carly was not wearing a life vest and was missing from "unknown causes".

An extensive search involving a helicopter, boats, aircraft, and swimmers was launched.

The search was called off when darkness fell, but has been ongoing in daylight hours.

The couple are experienced sailors and have a blog detailing their trip from Portugal across the Atlantic to South America then to Cape Town, stopping at Port Owen on the West Coast and then making their way up the coast.

The pair had been in Durban with their yacht for around two weeks. They left Durban on Thursday bound for Madagascar.

Carly wrote on Facebook about the trip last week, saying: "Oryx is setting sail for Madagascar tomorrow. We will be taking the scenic route via the Mozambique channel islands and will be off the ethernet for a while. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We will be in contact asap."

Carly's son Dylan the news she was missing on his Facebook page, writing: "My Mom Carly Hill is currently lost at sea. The NSRI is searching for her as well as Pete Hill. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Let's hope they find her."

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