A couple who went missing after trying to sail across the Atlantic in a yacht have been found dead after washing up in a lifeboat.

Sarah Packwood, 54, and Brett Clibbery, 70, were traveling on their wind and solar-powered yacht, Theros, when they went missing, per BBC News.

The couple were reported missing a week after departing from Nova Scotia on June 11, with the intention of reaching a group of islands known as the Azores - 900 miles west of Portugal - by July 2.

Packwood and Clibbery are believed to have abandoned their yacht for a lifeboat before tragically passing away at sea.

James Clibbery, Clibbery's son, confirmed their deaths in a Facebook post, describing the past few days as "very hard."

He expressed deep sorrow, stating the couple would be "forever missed" and added: "There isn't anything that will fill the hole that has been left by their, so far unexplained passing."

Their bodies were discovered last week on Sable Island, 290 kilometers off the coast of Nova Scotia.

The circumstances surrounding the tragic end to their voyage remain unclear.

A "multi-agency" investigation is underway, as confirmed by local police following the discovery of the bodies.

The couple was documenting their journey on their YouTube channel Theros Adventures, showcasing their efforts to travel using electric, wind, and solar power.

Their trip to the Azores was intended to be the first fully “green” voyage on Theros, which they had modified by removing its diesel engine, dubbing it the Green Odyssey.

This was not their first attempt to cross the Atlantic; in 2019, they were forced to turn back due to storm forecasts.

On the day they set sail, Clibbery and Packwood shared a video showing them 16 nautical miles off the coast of Nova Scotia, enjoying fair winds and calm seas. This video was their last.

One theory under investigation, according to Canadian news website Saltwire, is that the yacht may have been struck by a passing cargo ship that failed to notice the collision.

"The sailboat crew were either unable to avoid collision or they could have been down below with Theros on automatic pilot," an anonymous source told Saltwire.

So far, there has been no sight of the yacht's wreckage despite efforts by the Canadian coastguard and military aircraft to locate any debris.

The couple's story began at a bus stop in London in 2015, leading to their marriage on the yacht a year later, per News.com.au.

They also celebrated a Celtic marriage ceremony at Stonehenge before moving to Canada, where they purchased land on Salt Spring Island near Vancouver.

Packwood, a poet, musician, and reiki healer, was described as an “accomplished sailor,” having learned to sail during her university years in England.

The couple had previously sailed 8,050 kilometers along the Pacific Coast of Canada, the USA, and South America.

Documenting their travels, Packwood wrote: “We spent a year aboard Theros on the high seas together, sailing on the first leg of our round-the-world voyage in stages from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, to Dartmouth in Nova Scotia, via Central America, the Panama Canal, and crossing the Western Caribbean.”

Our thoughts are with Clibbery and Packwood's loved ones at this time.

Featured image credit: Facebook / Theros Sailing Adventure

Heartfelt tributes are flooding in for two Irish teens, Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall, both 18, who tragically died within hours of each other while vacationing in Greece, celebrating the end of their exams.

The recent graduates from St Michael's College had embarked on their trip to the island of Ios with a large group of friends.

During a night out, Andrew was separated from his friend on the way back to their accommodation and was later reported missing. His body was tragically discovered the next day around 9:20AM on rocky terrain in a field, indicating a possible slip that led to a fatal head injury.

Devastatingly, Max, who had a pre-existing heart condition, is said to have collapsed upon hearing about his friend's sudden passing near the island's port.

His condition rapidly deteriorated and despite medics' best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. Local law enforcement confirmed two investigations are underway into the tragic incidents, with the bereaved families arriving on the island.

A local police official, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Mirror: "We understand that Max who was discovered in the port had a history of heart problems. Friends who were with him described him collapsing on hearing about Andrew. They were close. This is about as near as it gets to an ancient Greek tragedy."

The initial alert was triggered when Andrew didn't return to the rented accommodation. "Police were brought in immediately but the search took many hours before his body was located in a gully in [the area of] Germanoli," said the officer, referring to one of the island's steep waterways.

Autopsies for both teens are anticipated at the port of Pireaus, near Athens. "The autopsies will tell us more although right now we are ruling out anything suspicious," said a source on the island.

Local community members, including Leinster Rugby, have expressed their profound shock and grief at the untimely death of these two "young men gone far too soon."

St Michael's College principal, Tim Kelleher, described the devastating impact of this tragic event on the entire school community during an interview on RTE's Morning Ireland.

"We're absolutely devastated, the entire community is reeling with the news over the last 24 hours," Kelleher said. He expressed the school's deepest condolences to the families of the young men and confirmed that representatives of the school's parent association are now in Greece offering support.

Both young men were lauded by Kelleher, with Andrew being remembered as a "fantastic young man, great sportsman, fantastic footballer" with a bright future. Similarly, Max was described as "very bright", passionate about rugby, and having "the world at his feet."

The school community is offering support and has opened a book of condolences, while the Irish tricolour and school flag are flown at half-mast, symbolizing the collective mourning.

The loss of these "bright, sporting, academic men, who had their whole lives ahead of them" leaves the community heartbroken, Mr. Kelleher expressed.

Our hearts go out to the families of O'Donnell and Wall.

Featured image credit: Heritage Images / Getty

A Wisconsin man who staged his own death to escape his family and start a new life overseas has been sentenced.

Ryan Borgwardt pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer after faking his death in August 2024.

The 45-year-old was sentenced to 89 days in jail on Tuesday (August 26) in Green Lake County court, where Judge Mark Slate emphasized the length of time his deception lasted as a critical factor in the ruling.

Although both the prosecution and defense recommended a 45-day jail sentence, the judge imposed a harsher sentence in light of the significant disruption caused by Borgwardt’s actions.

“I deeply regret the actions that I did that night and all the pain that I caused my family and friends,” Borgwardt told the court, per CBS News.

His attorney, Erik Johnson, stated that the man “is here taking responsibility for his actions” and expressed remorse for the trauma inflicted on those around him.

Borgwardt’s saga began on August 11, 2024, when he texted his wife that he was turning around on Green Lake and would be heading back to shore soon, but he never returned home.

When an overturned kayak and lifejacket were discovered, authorities feared the worst and launched an extensive search that lasted for weeks. Volunteers and law enforcement officials scoured the lake, but Borgwardt was nowhere to be found.

However, in October, investigators uncovered a series of suspicious clues. The man had been in contact with a woman from Uzbekistan, and his name had been flagged in Canada shortly after he was reported missing, The New York Post reported.

Police later discovered he had cleared his browsing history, applied for a new passport, and even obtained a life insurance policy months before his disappearance.

Investigators traced Borgwardt’s steps, learning that he had traveled to Canada and eventually made his way to Paris before reaching Georgia, where he was living with the woman he had met online.

The man, who had once been a husband and father of three, had intentionally disappeared to create a new life abroad.

Green Lake County District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa blasted the father of three’s “premeditated, selfish actions” for the “incredible damage” he caused “not only to his family, but our community".

“His entire plan to fake his death to devastate his family in order to serve his own selfish desires hinged on him dying in the lake and selling his death to the world,” LaSpisa added.

Borgwardt’s escape was not without complications as he traveled by electric bike from Green Lake to Madison, then caught a bus to Detroit, crossed into Canada, and ultimately flew to Europe.

It wasn't until November that authorities tracked him down, and he returned to the United States in December to face charges. Upon his return, Borgwardt admitted that he had staged his death because of “personal matters” and believed that authorities would eventually abandon the search for him.

Borgwardt's actions prompted an outpouring of resources and dedication from local officials and volunteers, with search costs reaching $50,000.

In addition to his jail sentence, the fleeing man was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the costs of the extensive search operation.

The impact on his family has been profound as Borgwardt’s wife of 22 years, Emily, filed for divorce four months after his return, citing that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.”

As for Borgwardt, his legal team emphasized his regret and shared that he returned to the US to "make amends,” although the emotional scars left by his actions will likely remain with his family for years to come.

Featured image credit: Green Lake County Sheriff's Office