Parents: Missing Teen Sailor Rescued

Abby Sunderland had sent up distress signal in Indian Ocean
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 12, 2010 5:51 AM CDT
Parents: Missing Teen Sailor Rescued
The position of sailor Abby Sunderland (yellow boat symbol top right), the Australian plane that spotted her (gray symbol) and the French fishing vessel (red ship), that is to come to her rescue.   ((AP Photo))

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 today 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 yesterday morning. The mast on her boat, Wild Eyes, had broken, dashing her attempts to sail around the world single handed. (More Abby Sunderland stories.)

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