Missing Plymouth sailor is rescued in France

Katy Stickland

Missing Plymouth sailor, Paul Easby, who was last seen on 22 June, has been rescued in France, but his friends and family are still appealing for information

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Missing Plymouth sailor Paul Easby has been rescued off the coast of northwest France.

The 47-year-old, who left Devonport on 22 June 2024 in his Coronado 25, St Elena for an evening’s fishing was found by the French authorities after he sent off a distress signal from his vessel last week.

His partner, Sheryl Beer said his boat was brought into Brest, where it is moored at a nearby anchorage; Paul was taken to hospital but later discharged himself.

His current whereabouts is unknown, and he is without his passport. His friends and family are still appealing for information to find him and are in contact with the British Embassy in France.

2 July 2024

Missing Plymouth sailor Paul Easby was last seen on his boat over a week ago.

The 47-year-old left Devonport, where he moors his Coronado 25, St Elena, on Saturday, 22 June 2024 to go fishing.

He had plenty of provisions on board but only 10 litres of fuel. He has a VHF radio onboard.

Talking to PBO, Paul’s partner, Sheryl Beer said she last spoke to him on 23 June 2024,

“I was not aware he had gone fishing on Saturday night. I tried to get hold of him but in the end, I reported him missing to the police. I managed to get hold of him on the Sunday (the last time they spoke) and he was around a mile or so past the Eddystone (lighthouse), and he was trying to come home but there was no wind and there was something wrong with the engine,” she said.

“When I last spoke to him he said: ‘I am trying to learn to sail and I am not going to learn to sail watching You Tube videos. Disappearing is not like him; he would not do this to me or his Mum.”

Missing Plymouth sailor Paul Easby. Courtesy: Devon and Cornwall Police

Missing Plymouth sailor Paul Easby. Courtesy: Devon and Cornwall Police

Sheryl said Paul did have mental health issues and was “obsessed with the war in Ukraine and preparing for war”.

“He has always said if there was World War 3 we would go out on his boat offshore,” she said.

Sheryl has permitted PBO to share details about Paul’s mental state, in the hope it will aid in the search for the missing Plymouth sailor.

Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for information as to his whereabouts.

Officers have released a photo of Paul Easby, describing him as white, of slim build, with dark brown, short hair. He is 6ft tall.

A photo of the St Elena has also been released, showing the vessel grounded.

A boat lying on it side

The photo of St Elena issued by police. This is the only photo the family initially had to share with the authorities; the boat was in good condition when it left Plymouth. Courtesy: Devon and Cornwall Police

It is the only photo of the vessel the family initially had to share with the authorities. Friends have said that St Elena is in good condition.

The yacht is described as having a blue hull,  blue sail, and aluminium mast. The name may only be shown as St E rather than St Elena.

A Coronado 25 boat belonging to missing Plymouth sailor Paul Easby

The family have also issued this photo of St Elena, showing the Coronado 25’s sail number. Credit: The Easby family

Paul has links to Brixham and Northampton, and the police are asking the public to look for the boat in harbours and anchorages.

Anyone who has seen Paul or St Elena is asked to contact the police immediately on 999, quoting log number 50240157671.

Falmouth Coastguard has put out an all-stations bulletin asking mariners to keep an eye out for St Elena.

Note: This article has been updated since publication following confirmation of the boat’s design and the availability of an additional picture of St Elena.

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