British couple attacked off St Lucia, one dead

A Briton visiting St Lucia, Roger Pratt, was killed and his wife injured when they were attacked off the coast of the Caribbean nation, its tourism minister has said.
Pratt, 62, was killed late Friday and his wife hurt, when their boat was moored off Vieux-Fort, said Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus.
"At this time we extend our sincerest condolences to the family of British national Roger Pratt. To his wife, who also sustained injuries as a result of the attack off the Vieux Fort coast, we extend our deepest sympathies," he said.
British media identified the wife as Margaret Pratt -- whose LinkedIn profile featured a post in June that read "Off travelling! The plan is to be in the Caribbean for my 60th birthday in January 2014... All a bit of a leap into the unknown."

According to media reports, the couple had planned a year-long boat trip.
Theophilus did not confirm reports that the couple were robbed.

And he stressed that St Lucia, a former British colony, remains "relatively safe for nationals and visitors alike" and that law enforcement is working to solve the case "speedily."
"This is an active investigation and law enforcement is leading the charge in an attempt to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice speedily," he said.
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman also confirmed the death, without giving any details about the victims or circumstances.
The spokeswoman said the foreign office was "providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.