Two British sailors are missing after their yacht was hit by a large wave in heavy seas off the coast of Portugal.

The boat, Waterwave, washed up on the northwest Portuguese coast and one crew member, aged 24, managed to swim ashore, but the other two men on board are feared dead.

The two men have been named as Chris Hull, 52, and Glenn Foster, 24, and all three crew members are from the Southend area.

The accident happened at 0330 yesterday, as they attempted to enter Povoa de Varzim harbour, where the destroyed carcass of their yacht (pictured above) was later taken.

Port officer Julio Rocha said a helicopter has launched to try and find the missing men who had been sailing from the Spanish port of Vigo.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are aware of a boating accident off the coast of Portugal involving three British nationals, two of whom are missing. We have offered consular assistance.’

The British Embassy in Lisbon has been given the names of the missing men and their families are being contacted.

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