Khattab al-Faramawy, a professional licensed diver whose nephew was on board the Sea Story boat, recalled finding survivors “trapped inside the boat cabins” around 24 hours after the vessel had sunk.

Diver Tim Postin said Colin Sharratt, 65, and Sally Jones, 58, were among the 33 people who have so far been rescued following the sinking of the Sea Story vessel, while the employer of another Briton, Tarig Sinada, said he was one of seven people still missing.

Egyptian naval forces have rescued three more people and recovered four bodies, a day after a tourist yacht carrying 44 passengers sank in the Red Sea coastal town of Marsa Alam after facing rough weather.