Three people are being held by police in the Caribbean island of St
Lucia after a British man was killed and his wife injured in an attack on their yacht.

Roger Pratt, aged 62, died on board the couple’s cruiser Magnetic Attraction in the town
of Vieux Fort on Friday night.

His wife, Margaret, aged 60, was treated for injuries sustained in the attack.

The Warwickshire couple, who were on a round-the-world trip, had sailed to St Lucia from the UK via the Algarve.

They had planned to set sail from the west coast of St Lucia just hours before the attack, but
their plan to leave had been delayed by officials.

Writing on her
blog in the hours before the attack, Mrs Pratt said: ‘On Thursday
morning the plan was to clear out from Soufriere, then to travel south
and use up the 72 hours before we had to be away.

‘But bureaucracy
intervened. HM Customs and Excise in Soufriere told us that exit had to
happen within 24 hours of clearing out; and that anyway, we couldn’t
clear out of Soufriere that day because the Immigration Officer hadn’t
come to work(!!)

‘So here we are in Vieux Fort, the most southerly port of clearance in St
Lucia. It’s very different. There’s a port; an airport and no
tourists…’

The Royal St. Lucia Police Force are investigating the incident.

Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus has released a statement on the tragedy, expressing condolences to the family of the victims while
assuring that St. Lucia remains ‘relatively safe for nationals and
visitors alike’ and that law enforcement is working to solve the case ‘speedily’.

Mr
Theophilus said: ‘At this time we extend our sincerest condolences to the
family of British national Roger Pratt. To his wife, who also sustained
injuries as a result of the attack off the Vieux Fort coast, we extend our
deepest sympathies. Our prayers are with her for a speedy recovery.’

The
couple had been celebrating Mrs Pratt’s 60th birthday just a few days prior to
the attack.

Writing
about her birthday celebrations Mrs Pratt said: ‘Yesterday was a very special
day. I had a blissful
time!’

She
added: ‘The evening went with a swing, aided by a local rum punch with fruit
juice that definitely packed a punch!

‘Altogether
a delightful and memorable day. Happiness is…’

Mrs Pratt’s blog, which has now been taken offline, depicted the couple’s idyllic voyage prior to the tragedy.