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. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will take over the search for the missing person.
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."
The cause of the sinking remains a mystery.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed in a statement that the five killed were UK nationals. He said consular officials in British Columbia were supporting family members of those who died.
"My thoughts are with the family and friends of all those affected by this terrible accident," Mr Hammond said.
Boats from the nearby Ahoushat First Nation arrived first on the scene, said aboriginal Councillor Tom Campbell.
He was on the waterfront and watched as rescuers brought several survivors ashore. He said his cousin pulled at least eight people from the water onto a boat.
The boat, the 20-metre Leviathan II, was partially submerged eight nautical miles west of Tofino.
Many of the survivors were taken to Tofino General Hospital and some were already discharged Sunday night, said Valerie Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
Canada's Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the boat's sinking.
