Parents: Stranded teenage sailor rescued by French fishermen in Indian Ocean
By APSaturday, June 12, 2010
Parents: Teenage sailor rescued in Indian Ocean
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The parents of a California teenager who was stranded at sea say she has been rescued by a French fishing crew.
Laurence Sunderland, the father of 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, told reporters outside his home early Saturday that maritime authorities had contacted him to confirm the rescue in heavy seas in the southern Indian Ocean.
Abby Sunderland set off a distress signal Thursday after rough seas disabled her ship and her satellite phone reception. Twenty hours later, an Australian search plane made brief radio contact with Sunderland and found her alive and well Friday morning.
The mast on her boat, Wild Eyes, had broken, dashing her attempts to sail around the world single handed.
