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Teenager and man (76) among five dead in boat tragedy

 One person remains missing after the whale watching boat sank in Canada
 One person remains missing after the whale watching boat sank in Canada

FIVE British people including a teenager and a 76-year-old man have died after a whale watching boat capsized off the west coast of Canada.

The boat, which was carrying 27 people, capsized near Vancouver Island on Sunday afternoon killing a woman and four men.

Twenty one people were rescued from the boat, while one person remains missing.

Barbara McLintock, from the British Columbia coroner's office, confirmed that the British victims included three male tourists and two British nationals who lived in Canada - one woman from British Columbia and a man from Ontario.

The victims included an 18-year-old man and another man aged 76, she added.

The boat, run by tour company Jamie's Whaling Station got into difficulty eight miles from the small town of Tofino, around 150 miles (250km) west of Vancouver.

In a statement posted on the website, company owner Jamie Bray wrote: "It has been a tragic day. Our entire team is heartbroken over this incident and our hearts go out to the families, friends and loved ones of everyone involved".

The Canadian prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau said he was "shocked and saddened" by the deaths, adding: "We thank all those, including our search and rescue officials, who responded swiftly with courage and professionalism.

"I know first-hand of this coastal area's natural beauty and the many people who visit here from all around the world.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, the crew, and their families at this most difficult time. We will continue to offer them support in the days ahead."