Sea search continues for missing chef

An intensive search was continuing tonight for a crew member believed to have gone overboard from the QE2 in the Atlantic.

The 27-year-old Indian-born chef failed to report for work at 8am today and was not found during a thorough search of the 67,000-tonne vessel.

Three aircraft, including a Nimrod from RAF Kinloss in Scotland, joined the search covering a 200-mile stretch of sea south-west of Ireland.

The chef, described as ‘‘very quiet’’ and a non-drinker, had last been seen asleep in his cabin at 1.30am as the ship sailed towards its home port of Southampton after leaving New York last week.

The coastguard was informed of the missing man by QE2 officers after it was decided that, in the circumstances, the vessel should continue on to Southampton.

The alert went out when the liner was 200 miles west of the Scilly Isles. Force six south-westerly winds with heavy swell continued in the search area this afternoon, with sea temperatures of about 15C (59F).

A UK coastguard aircraft and an Irish fisheries plane joined the Nimrod in the search. The Nimrod was searching at around 300-400ft, with 13 crew members scanning the sea with binoculars.

Vessels passing through the area were asked to keep a lookout for the missing man.

Among those known to be sailing on the QE2 was Paul Burrell, former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, who is lecturing to passengers on his life with the royals.