MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British girl dies in Antarctica.

An Inquiry in the South Atlantic is underway following the sudden death of a British girl who was involved in an expedition called ?Mission Antarctica 2'.

The Falklands Coroner Keith Watson and Detective Sergeant Jonathan Butler of the Royal Falkland Islands Police (RFIP) have flown to the Chilean capital Santiago to interview crew members of the yacht ?2041' on which 25 year old Philippa Gregory, was sailing at the time of her death.

According to Inspector Len McGill of the RFIP, Miss Gregory who was from Kidderminster in England, was known to be 'an insulin dependent diabetic who was suffering from severe sea-sickness'. A doctor from the Royal Naval vessel H.M.S. Endurance was flown by helicopter to the yacht to give medical assistance, but was too late to save Miss Gregory.

A Chilean Twin Otter aircraft flew the body of Miss Gregory from Marsh base in Antarctica to the Falkland Islands late on Friday night, and it is anticipated that the Royal Air Force will fly the body to England for burial on Wednesday. Crew members of the yacht ?2041' were flown to Santiago where they are now being interviewed by the Falklands police officer who flew out of the Islands on Saturday.

Inspector McGill said that at the moment it was not certain whether an Inquest will be held in the Falklands or not, or whether the Coroner will, after all information is gathered, decided to allow re-patriation without the formality of an Inquest.

The Expedition ?Mission Antarctica 2' is sponsored by SUN ALLIANCE