Names released of four Britons among five killed in Canada whale-watching tragedy

A whale watching boat with 27 people on board sank off Vancouver Island on Sunday, Canadian authorities said.

FOUR Britons including a father and his teenage son who died when a whale-watching boat sank off the coast of Canada have been named.

David Thomas, 50, and his 18-year-old son Stephen, from Swindon, Wiltshire, were among five Britons who died after the boat overturned near Vancouver Island on Sunday.

Britons Jack Slater, 76, and 29-year-old Katie Taylor were also killed, sources said.

Stephen’s mother Julie was rescued from the stricken vessel, Leviathan II, along with 20 other people on board.

Mr Slater, who was originally from Salford but had lived in Canada for many years, was onboard the boat with his wife but she was rescued.

A 27-year-old man from Sydney remains missing, while his girlfriend’s father is reportedly among the dead.

Tributes poured in for Mr Thomas - who worked for Microsoft - and his son.

The Down’s Syndrome Association described Stephen as a “very talented young man” and a “gifted photographer”, while his father was a “huge supporter” of the charity.

The charity’s chief executive, Carol Boys, said: “Everyone at the Down’s Syndrome Association and the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group were deeply saddened to hear the news of the deaths of Stephen and David Thomas.

“Stephen was a very talented young man and a gifted photographer. His love of photography started when he was eight years old. We were all delighted when Stephen’s beautiful image Moraine Lake won the national My Perspective photographic competition last year.

“Stephen’s father David was a huge supporter of the Down’s Syndrome Association and one of the driving forces behind the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group, where he was a trustee.

“All of our thoughts and condolences are with the Thomas family at this terrible time.”

Stephen’s brother, Paul Thomas, a 22-year-old University of Nottingham student, said his mother was in hospital with minor injuries and he was flying out to Canada on Tuesday afternoon, the Swindon Advertiser reported.

Microsoft issued a statement paying tribute to Mr Thomas - who worked for the company - and his son.

Michel Van der Bel, area vice president and general manager at Microsoft UK, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the death of David Thomas, a Microsoft employee, and his son in the tragic boating accident in Canada.