Names released of four Britons among five killed in Canada whale-watching tragedy

David Thomas, 50, and his 18-year-old son Stephen, from Swindon, Wiltshire, were among five Britons who died after the boat overturned near Vancouver Island on Sunday.

Britons Jack Slater, 76, and 29-year-old Katie Taylor were also killed, sources said.

Stephen’s mother Julie was rescued from the stricken vessel, Leviathan II, along with 20 other people on board.

Mr Slater, who was originally from Salford but had lived in Canada for many years, was onboard the boat with his wife but she was rescued.

A 27-year-old man from Sydney remains missing, while his girlfriend’s father is reportedly among the dead.

Tributes poured in for Mr Thomas - who worked for Microsoft - and his son.

The Down’s Syndrome Association described Stephen as a “very talented young man” and a “gifted photographer”, while his father was a “huge supporter” of the charity.

The charity’s chief executive, Carol Boys, said: “Everyone at the Down’s Syndrome Association and the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group were deeply saddened to hear the news of the deaths of Stephen and David Thomas.

“Stephen was a very talented young man and a gifted photographer. His love of photography started when he was eight years old. We were all delighted when Stephen’s beautiful image Moraine Lake won the national My Perspective photographic competition last year.

“Stephen’s father David was a huge supporter of the Down’s Syndrome Association and one of the driving forces behind the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group, where he was a trustee.

“All of our thoughts and condolences are with the Thomas family at this terrible time.”

Stephen’s brother, Paul Thomas, a 22-year-old University of Nottingham student, said his mother was in hospital with minor injuries and he was flying out to Canada on Tuesday afternoon, the Swindon Advertiser reported.

Microsoft issued a statement paying tribute to Mr Thomas - who worked for the company - and his son.

Michel Van der Bel, area vice president and general manager at Microsoft UK, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the death of David Thomas, a Microsoft employee, and his son in the tragic boating accident in Canada.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with their family, friends and David’s colleagues and we will be doing everything we can to support them.”

Stephen, who was a keen photographer, posted some of his work on his blog called Stephen’s View, writing: “I am really interested in photography. I like taking pictures of flowers, landscapes and people.”

His father, who had his own amateur photography website, described himself as a “committed Christian” who was “in constant awe at the wonders of God’s creation”.

In a Facebook post, Gateway Church Swindon said Mr Thomas and his son were active members of the church community, adding: “These two men brought smiles and encouragement to all who knew them and they will be greatly missed.”

Swindon College, where Stephen had enrolled on a course last year, described him as a “firm favourite of students and staff”.

Andrew Parsons, the college’s curriculum area manager for foundation learning, said: “During a Bugsy Malone performance, last June, Stephen demonstrated his infectious lust for life and was one of the star performers during the two nights of shows.

“Stephen was an enthusiastic learner who was always willing to try new things and had a keen interest in many subjects, particularly art.

“All of our thoughts, condolences and sympathies are with the family at this difficult time. Stephen will be sorely missed by all of the staff and students of the foundation learning department.”

The stricken boat, run by local tour firm Jamie’s Whaling Station, got into difficulty eight miles (13km) from the small town of Tofino, around 150 miles (241km) west of Vancouver.

The company’s owner, Jamie Bray, said people were “traumatised” and in “disbelief” at what had happened.

Local fisherman Clarence Smith said one survivor believed a wave had capsized the boat and a pregnant woman and another woman with a broken leg were among those rescued.

“The lady was saying that a wave just capsized them,” Mr Smith said. “That’s why there weren’t any communications on the radio, no mayday.”

The boat began to take on water around two hours and 15 minutes after it took off on its whale-watching tour, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said. Investigators will now examine the wreckage of the vessel, its maintenance history and and consider the weather conditions at the time.

Following the incident Mr Bray said passengers on the boat were not required to wear life jackets.

“On larger vessels we’re not required to have the passengers wear the life jackets. On smaller open boats they are,” he said.

The company suffered a previous fatal accident, with a boat becoming swamped and rolling to an angle in 1998, killing the captain and a tourist, and an incident two years earlier when a captain suffered head injuries, but survived, after falling asleep and running a boat aground.

Mr Slater’s daughter paid tribute to her father, a former Navy engineer, whom she described as “larger than life”.

Writing on Facebook, Michele Slater Brown said: “Our hearts are broken today, our father was one of the people who lost their lives on the whale watching tragedy in Tofino.

“Our dad was larger than life, a charmer, handsome, entrepreneur, engineer in the Navy, he was 76 years old, he was our dad, our lovely dad, I will miss him forever but I’m grateful for all the times I spent with him, I love you dad.”

She later posted that she had been notified of his death “in the wee hours of this morning”.

“I’m a bit foggy, my heart is hurting so much,” she added.

“He was an adventurer, he lived his life his way, I’m so sorry he had to die in this way, it’s a tragedy beyond belief.

“I’m proud of who he was and who he created. My sisters are strong and we will continue to live our lives, always with him in our minds and hearts.”

Isambard Community School in Swindon said former pupil Stephen was a “positive role model for others”.

Headteacher Sue Banks said: “He never used the term ‘I can’t’ and was constantly smiling. He was respected by students and staff alike.

“He achieved a range of qualifications whilst with us including GCSE English, mathematics, science and leisure and tourism but his love was art, achieving a GCSE grade B at unendorsed art, a grade A in photography and an A* in sculpture.

“His work was exhibited regularly in school and even bought at our annual art show which he and his family have continued to attend and support since Stephen left us in 2013.

“I have received messages of disbelief and sorrow from many staff including those who have left and of course we are preparing for our students returning to school next week, many of whom knew Stephen.”