THE search for an Ashburton couple missing after a dive boat sank in Egypt has been called off, it has been reported.

Jenny Cawson, 36, and her husband Tarig Sinada, 49, are among several passengers still unaccounted for after the 144ft yacht Sea Story they were on foundered during a trip on the Red Sea.

A diver working on the rescue operation has been reported as saying the search has been ‘totally called off’ but there has been no official confirmation from coastguards in Egypt.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: ‘We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Egypt and are in contact with the local authorities.’

Ms Cawson, who works for the Devon Wildlife Trust, and Mr Sinada, an IT professional, are both experienced scuba divers.

Family member Karen Wilson-Pereira appealed on social media for help.

She wrote: ‘As many of you may be aware, Jenny and Tarig are the two missing brits on the Sea Story boat that capsized in the Red Sea.

‘As a family we are battling with the authorities to get the true facts and information that we need and deserve.

‘In desperation we have resorted to our own fact finding mission, and with the power of social media we are crying out for your help.’

The yacht which had been carrying 44 people, including 13 crew and 31 passengers, was hit by a huge wave on November 25.

Witnesses said an ‘abnormally large’ wave hit the boat when it was around 46 nautical miles off the coast of Marsa Alam.

The yacht capsized just minutes later.

Shortly after the incident, 28 people were rescued by Egyptian officials and some were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Five people were found alive a day later, after finding air pockets in the boat, but four people were found dead. Local officials confirmed that there were no other bodies in the yacht.