Lowestoft couple stranded after lightning struck yacht

Mike Beech, 63, and his wife Helen, 61, from Oulton, said they were moored off a small island near George Town in the Bahamas when an electrical storm hit - and a "direct strike" caused around £36,000 damage.

They heard an "almighty bang" when the lightning bolt hit the mast of their 38-foot yacht, Mistral Dancer, about 6.30pm on March 23.

Mike Beech and his wife Helen are stranded in the Bahamas after a lightning bolt struck their yacht at anchorage. PA Real Life (Image: PA Real Life)

The couple – who have three children Alice, 30, Charlie, 29, and Jessica, 27 – said the lightning bolt, which was captured on camera from a distance, destroyed almost all of the boat’s electrical navigation equipment.

Without repairs, they are unable to move on - and they now face a race against time to get moving again before hurricane season hits.

Mike Beech and his wife Helen aboard the yacht, prior to it being hit by a lightning strike. Picture: PA Real Life (Image: PA Real Life)

Mr and Mrs Beech had been sailing across the world through their retirement, having left from Lowestoft.

On his Facebook page, Mr Beech said last month: "Just took a lightning bolt to the mast head.

The lightning bolt - which was captured on camera from a distance - has destroyed almost all of the electrical equipment on Mike and Helen Beech's yacht. Picture: PA Real Life (Image: PA Real Life)

"Vhf antenna, anchor light, tricolour light, windex all gone - lost all the electrics in the boat, except the interior light that was turned off, even lost the fridge."

The couple are yet to find out how much their insurance company will cover as they could face costs of around £6,000 - raising fears that their retirement dream could come to an abrupt end should their boat be written off.

Damage caused to the electrical equipment on Mike and Helen Beech's yacht. Picture: PA Real Life (Image: PA Real Life)

Having spent their life savings on buying and renovating the boat, a friend and fellow sailor has launched a fundraiser to help them cover their insurance excess and any extra costs - including renewing their visas and cruising permit - with the couple praising the boating community who had been "extremely helpful and supportive."

'Really scary'

Mr Beech told PA Real Life: "I never want to experience anything like that again, at all.

"It’s really scary at the moment because all the other boats are racing back to the US to get out of the hurricane and tropical storm belt and we’re stuck here.

"But we’re alive, because I’m not sure what would have happened if we had been on deck."

With the hurricane season starting in the Bahamas on June 1, the couple said time is running out to get their boat to safety.

"That’s really worrying," Mr Beech added.

The couple had only been planning on staying a few more days before setting sail for Jamaica to then head south to Colombia, before they planned to sail on to New Zealand to see their son Charlie.

"We were just passing through here, we weren’t meant to stay," Mr Beech said.

To help them get back on the water, one of their friends, Tony Wells, has launched a fundraiser online on GoFundMe where you can pledge support.