Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

Family plead for police to search yacht after British woman disappears in Virgin Islands

Family plead for police to search yacht after British woman disappears in Virgin Islands

Sarm Heslop was reported missing by her American boyfriend nearly two weeks ago
The family and friends of a woman who disappeared from a yacht anchored off the US Virgin Islands on 8 March are demanding assurances from local police that they are doing all they can to find her.

Sarm Heslop, 41, a former flight attendant from Southampton, was reported missing by her American boyfriend, Ryan Bane.

The couple returned to the 47ft catamaran, Siren Song, after going to a restaurant in St John on 7 March. Bane told police he noticed she was missing at 2am the next day and feared she may have fallen off the boat.

Heslop’s friends and family have been pleading with police to search the boat. Andrew Baldwin, who has been a friend for 25 years, said: “The last place she was seen should be the first place they would search, but as far as we know the boat has not been searched.”

Baldwin said her disappearance was out of character, as “she is the kind of friend that keeps in regular contact”.

He said: “Sarm and I had spoken about Ryan but I had never met him. She was very happy. She had just gone out to there at the end of January to be with him. I have no reason to believe there were any issues there at all.

“We know Sarm and Ryan were seen in a restaurant that evening and there are reports that they got back on the boat at 10pm and then Sarm wasn’t seen at 2am. We understand that jurisdictions are different, but her friends and family are desperate for verified information about what happened.”

Baldwin, who works for a cruise company, said Heslop was an experienced sailor. “Sarm knows boats,” he said. “She sailed across the Atlantic. I don’t understand how someone could fall from that boat in that situation.”

Her family said: “We are shocked and distraught that Sarm is missing. We would like assurance that the authorities in the Virgin Islands are doing everything possible to find her, and that the investigation into our beautiful and cherished daughter’s disappearance includes a comprehensive fingertip search of the boat.”

Virgin Islands police have been approach for comment. On Monday they appealed for islanders’ help in trying to find Heslop, but they have yet to confirm whether the boat has been searched.

The family statement added: “Our daughter is a UK citizen and we ask for all of the support that the UK authorities have to offer. Our thanks go to the local people of St John, who continue to search for Sarm. We will never give up looking for Sarm and we still have hope of finding her safe”

Baldwin said Heslop’s parents were considering flying to the Virgin Islands, despite the pandemic restrictions, in the hope of getting more answers from police. “It is something that the family are actively considering … nothing is confirmed,” he said. “The family have had some conversations with the police. The police have given an assurance that an investigation is under way, but not a great deal of detail is coming out.”

Bane’s lawyers issued a statement saying: “Mr Bane’s only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well. His thoughts and prayers are with Sarm and her family during this difficult time. Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm and will continue to do so. Ryan is devastated that Sarm is missing.”

It is understood that Bane has handed Heslop’s belongings, including her phone and her passport, to the police.

Baldwin said: “Her phone, her passport, her wallet were all left on that boat. She would not leave everything behind and just walk away – it is not in her character.”

Heslop’s friends have set up a missing person’s appeal on Facebook.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
×