First picture of Egypt boat fire victim Christina Quinn, 58, who died after horror blaze tore through tourist vessel
ONE of the victims of the tragic boat fire in Egypt has been pictured for the first time.
Christina Quinn, 58, was one of the three Brits who died in the Red Sea after they missed an evacuation on Sunday.
Horror footage showed the vessel engulfed in flames as black smoke billowed into the sky.
Egyptian emergency services launched a mass rescue operation, bringing a total of 26 people to safety including twelve Brits.
One of the three victims, Christina, was the chief executive the St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth, Devon.
Paying tribute to Ms Quinn, a spokesperson of her family said she would be “missed beyond words”.
In a statement, they said: “It is with great sadness that we confirm the tragic death of Christina Quinn in Egypt.
“She was a sister, daughter, wife, aunty, friend, and rock to many. She will be missed beyond words. We would ask for privacy at this time.”
Charles Hackett, Chair of St Luke’s Trustees, said: “Christina was incredibly passionate about St Luke’s and its place at the heart of the community it serves, and we are devastated to lose her warmth, wisdom and leadership.
“With her vibrant and engaging personality and her down-to-earth, caring nature, as CEO she was quickly building strong and meaningful relationships both inside the outside the organisation.
“We will miss Christina enormously and our hearts go out to her family and close friends at this tragic time.”
The horrific incident happened on Sunday when the tourist vessel heading on a diving trip, burst into flames.
Rescue services were immediately alerted to the fire after reports the boat – called the Hurricane – had caught alight from an electric circuit in the engine room.
Egypt‘s Red Sea Governate said 12 crew members and 12 British tourists were rescued off the southern Red Sea resort town of Marsa Alam.
The boat left from Port Ghalib in the eastern city of Marsa Alam on June 6 and was due to return home.
Scuba Travel, which ran the diving tour the Brits were on, confirmed the three of them were dead.
The company’s statement read: “It is with great regret that we, as Tour Operator, with heavy hearts, must accept that three of our much-valued dive guests, who had not participated in the dive briefing, early on the morning of June 11, perished in the tragic incident.
“Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends at this very sad time.”
The Foreign Office is supporting other Brits involved in the incident.