Officer drowns in yacht rescue

A MARINE POLICE officer died yesterday during an operation to rescue a Russian couple with two children, whose sailboat had capsized in rough seas off the Paphos coast.
The 30-year-old woman was still missing last night as police called off a search and rescue that was set to resume at dawn today.
Officer Andreas Georgiou, 29, died during a 3.30am rescue effort when the inflatable boat he was in with a colleague was hit by high waves and overturned as they tried to approach the stricken yacht near the entrance of the Paphos harbour.
“It is a very bad day for the police force,” spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said. “We are mourning the loss of an exceptional colleague who showed altruism and self-sacrifice.” 17/03/2010