Photo courtesy of AP

According to news reports, two British yachtsmen (23 and 52) are missing after their boat was hit by a large wave off the coast of Portugal. The men were sailing from Vigo in northern Spain when their yacht was struck. A 24-year-old crew member managed to swim to safety at Povoa de Varzim.

The Portuguese authorities have sent a helicopter to search for the missing men, and Foreign Office officials have offered consular assistance.

The yacht had been sailing from the port of Vigo in north-west Spain when a storm hit at approximately 03:30 GMT on Saturday morning.

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.”