Hurricane Odile: British couple missing off coast of Mexico

Pair named as Paul Whitehouse and Simone Wood in reports

Winds blow palm trees on the beach in Los Cabos, Mexico on Sunday (AFP)

A British couple have been reported missing after Hurricane Odile struck Mexico at the weekend.

The pair have been named in reports as Paul Whitehouse and Simone Wood and are understood to have gone missing when their yacht overturned in the La Paz harbour in Baja California.

Hurricane Odile left a trail of destruction when it hit the Baja California Peninsula last Sunday, knocking power and water supplies and sparking widespread looting.

Helicopters are being deployed in the search for pair, who are believed to be from Wolverhampton and London. They are thought to have been living on their yacht for a year.

Mr Whitehouse is understood to be a scuba instructor in the city of La Paz. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware two British nationals have been reported missing off the coast of Mexico. We are in touch with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to their families."

The British Embassy in Mexico has advised British nationals in those areas of Baja California and Baja California Sur affected by the hurricane to leave through Los Cabos International airport.

Three people have been confirmed dead following the category three hurricane - two Korean citizens and a German man who reportedly died from a heart attack.

Mexican authorities have deployed more than 8,000 army, navy and federal police personnel to prevent looting in the area.