A British citizen dramatically rescued by the Coast Guard has paid tribute to the people who helped him and his friends after they were airlifted to Bermuda. "I might not have died, but I sure landed in some kind of heaven," wrote Jeffrey White in a letter to The Royal Gazette.

Mr. White was one of six people — including a four-year-old girl — whose sailboat lost engine power and steering in near 60 mph winds 175 miles west of Bermuda earlier this month.

Their situation was deteriorating but Coast Guard rescuers reached the scene and lifted them one by one into a helicopter before flying them to the safety of the Island.

Most of Mr. White's group were Americans, and they were looked after by the US Consul.

Mr. White said in his letter: "I hope you can give me space in your newspaper to say thank you to a few people on your wonderful isle of Bermuda.

"From the moment we touched down the warmth and kindness shown by the Bermudian Immigration authorities and the staff of the American consul (Margaret and Maria) was amazing.

"I am in fact a British citizen although everyone I came into contact with has treated me like a family member. I would like to thank everyone at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort who really looked after us so well.

"Thanks to the taxi driver who gave me a reduced fare from Hamilton to my hotel when I told him my shipwreck story, I think his name was Tony. In fact I would like to thank everyone in Bermuda who are such a great advert for the human race. When the USCG saved me, I might not have died but I sure landed in some kind of heaven."