Family saddened as hope fades for missing crew

Families of one of the missing British sailors, including two men from the South, have said they are 'shocked and deeply saddened'.

Hope is fading for finding the four men after the life raft for the yacht was found on board the capsized Cheeki Rafiki.

Underwater images taken by a US Navy swimmer found the raft stowed in place, indicating it had not been deployed in an emergency.

The upturned yacht was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 miles east of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Coast guard officials decided to call off the search for the men - including experienced captain Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham, Surrey, and crew member James Male, 23, from Southampton.

Also missing are Steve Warren, 52, from Bridgwater, Somerset, and Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset - unless there was new information or sightings which suggested they would still be alive.

The family of Andrew Bridge from Surrey said: "Andrew will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families of the rest of the crew on the CheekiRafiki."

"We would like to thank everyone who's helped in the search for Andrew, including the US Coast Guard, the Canadian Coast Guard, the RAF, merchant vessels, the yachting community and the British and American Governments."