A British woman says she is anxiously waiting for news from her son who is caught on a stricken ferry off Greece.
Dotty Channing-Williams from Berkshire last spoke to her son Nick, 37, when he contacted her from the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic on Sunday morning.
He is one of two Britons on the ferry which is burning in high winds.
Ships and helicopters are involved in a rescue operation and Greek and Italian officials say 161 of the 478 people on board have been taken off the boat.
An Italian Coast Guard official quoted by Associated Press says one person has died.
The Norman Atlantic was travelling from Patras in Greece to Ancona in Italy when a fire broke out on its car deck.
British Ambassador to Greece John Kittmer said on Twitter the passenger manifest revealed that two UK nationals were on board.
"We are in close contact with the Greek authorities and are urgently seeking more information," he said.
'Freezing cold'Mr Channing-Williams, who lives in Greece, is a competitive show jumper and trains young riders. He was on the boat with his 33-year-old fiancee Regina Theoffili.
His mother told the Press Association: "It's hard, because I haven't heard anything for a long time now.
"They have cut communications because it was hampering the rescue operation."
She said her son last spoke to her at 11:00 GMT.
"I told him it's just so difficult because there's no information. And he said, 'It's far more difficult here, because we've been on the top deck in the freezing cold and rain and thunder and lightning.'"
Mrs Channing-Williams said her son had initially called her about 04:00 BST but said he had dialled her number by mistake.
She added: "But as soon as I got up and saw the television news this morning, which was early, I knew. I knew straight away. I knew that he was on that ferry.
"I know that he was in touch with the people in Greece and he said to them, 'Please don't tell my mum, because she'll be so worried.'... And then he called me to let me know that he's okay".
Briton on fire ferry contacts mother
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