Two seasoned international sailors have been found dead aboard their yacht off the coast of South Africa, raising suspicions of foul play amid reports of increased pirate activity in the region.
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Aussie sailor Deirdre ‘Cookie’ Sibly, aged 67 and hailing from Port Lincoln, was sailing with her French companion, Pascal, when they issued a distress signal on Thursday while navigating near Madagascar.
It is reported that when local authorities responded, they discovered both sailors deceased on the yacht, leaving many questions unanswered.
According to reports from The New York Post, Sibly and Pascal had embarked on what was described as a ‘trip of a lifetime’, having met on Reunion Island in June before setting sail down the Mozambique Channel with a destination of Durban, where Sibly intended to fly home.
Sibly’s family is now left grappling with uncertainty and fear as they await further details regarding the circumstances of their deaths.
Speaking on 9 News Adelaide, her sister, Sue Good, expressed devastation over the loss, noting, ‘She was a very adventurous, outdoor soul,’
‘Her whole life revolved around the sea and yachts,’ She added. ‘How could this happen to two happy people doing what they loved?’
The Mozambique Channel is not considered a safe sailing area, with Good acknowledging the risks inherent in navigating such waters.
As speculation swirls, Sibly’s family has raised the alarming possibility that pirates may have been involved, given that such criminal activity is known to occur in the region, as per reported by The Sun.
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