Abby Sunderland Feared Lost at Sea, Rescue Efforts Underway
Authorities have begun a search for Abby Sunderland.
The 16-year old is attempting to sail around the world on her own, but her parents lost contact with her this morning, soon before the teenager set off a distress signal. She's believed to be in the southern part of the Indian Ocean.
"Everything seemed to be under control," father Laurence Sunderland told The Los Angeles Times. "But then our call dropped and a hour later the coast guard called."
A rescue effort, coordinated by the French-controlled Reunion Islands and Australia, is underway. However, Sunderland is likely hundreds of miles away from land and there's concern over how long it would take a boat to reach her.
Said family spokesman Christian Pinkston: "We've got to get a plane out there quick... They are exhausting every resource to try to mobilize an air rescue including discussions with the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and various international rescue organizations."
Meanwhile, Abby's parents have updated their blog with this statement:
Abby has all of the equipment on board to survive a crisis situation like this. She has a dry suit, survival suit, life raft, and ditch bag with emergency supplies. If she can keep warm and hang on, help will be there as soon as possible. Wild Eyes is designed for travel in the Southern Ocean and is equipped with 5 air-tight bulkheads to keep her buoyant in the event of major hull damage. It is built to Category 0 standards and is designed to self-right in the event of capsize.
Thank you for all of your kind emails and calls. We appreciate your prayers and support.
Let's all hope Abby Sunderland is found alive and well.
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June 12th, 2010 2:54 PM
Next, there will be an offer to make a movie of this and they probably expected it.
June 11th, 2010 1:18 AM
@Tina: I only 'bitched' at the end of my post. At the ridiculous comments show n here(with the exception of @walker, who actually makes a valid point--sorry,dude). Actually,if you'll read the 'whole' post,you'll see that I'm giving 'Prop's to THG for writing something that's Real and needs real attention. THG and I haven't had the best of relationships for a while,yet---I like to give credit where it's due. And with THIS Article---It's Due...As for 'what I'm doing to find her' I actually have some friends in California who have sailed/motored/dived and etcetera in those VERY waters. I was contacting them to to get a handle on what type of sea/ocean it is,AND to make them abreast of the situation in case they hadn't heard yet,because they have contacts down there. Maybe they could help. I'm not certain,and it's a definite long-shot,but I thought I would give-it a try. If that turns-out to be a dead-end---I'll see if i can't come-up with something else. The Internet makes traveling the g
June 10th, 2010 11:58 PM
Hollywood: Just what the hell, are you doing to find her? All you are doing is bitching, how is that constructive? I think that parents that let a 16 year old kid in a big ocean by themselves and not being or having someone a few miles back in a bigger boat is irresponsible.
June 10th, 2010 11:43 PM
@THG: I like this article a LOT. My Prayers,and best wishes go out to the parents of Abby,and Abby herself. I hope she's found,found safe,and found SOON...May her(Abby's)Guardian Angel be working over-time to ensure her safe return...@THG: I know we'll probably never see eye-to-eye on a certain star,but---we'll always see things clearly when it comes to things like this...I give you many gold-stars and Kudo's for printing news like this...I have to say I'm quite shocked at the comments I see before me. This girl's tragedy is certainly not the time for blame and hate. It's the time to Hope she's alright and found quickly---what is wrong with people today? This girl is LOST! Her being found is the top priority not;"Well if she'd only...!" Or,"Fry the parents! They must be horrible!" What?! Now??!! Can we find Abby first? Wouldn't that be a little more constructive?? Man! That's it---I gotta go...I've never seen such backwards thinking of folks...@THG: Please keep-up the good work on this
June 10th, 2010 10:50 PM
choppers can be refueled in the air,this is what she needs for an extraction.........
June 10th, 2010 9:37 PM
Why weren't the parents somewhere close by. This is really stupid. If something has happened to her, her parents need to be locked up for allowing this without having someone close by, or allowing it period.
June 10th, 2010 8:37 PM
What kind of mouthbreathing asshat lets their sixteen year old daughter attempt to sail around the world by themselves?These idiots need their sorry asses kicked!
June 10th, 2010 8:15 PM
¦KYW is a fu***** mess. How did PETER DUNN , cHief operating officer at CBS in NEW YORK get promoted. DUNN hates minorities, old women and is a pig. He reportedly despises LESLIE MOONVES CHINESE WIFE JULIE CHEN. DUNN used to have women come into his office and suck his d--ck. He would promote them (LIKE ALYCIA LANE). How long before PETER DUNN IS FOUND OUT BY LESLIE MOONVES?? ++++++++ As anyone who knows knowsâ??Susan Schiller, Peter Dunn, Michael Colelran, Mike Archer, Cesar Aldama, Leslie Moonves needs to CLEAN HOUSE AND FIRE their fu***** asses. For god-s sakes, theyâ??re all idiots, Alycia LAne, LArry, and the mumbo jumbo management that misses stories elft and right and tape recordds Channel 6 shows every single day at the behest of News Director Susan Schiller since she donâ??t know how to run a damn news room. The woman was late sending camera crews to the McGReevey scandal when it broke becauseâ??get thisâ??she didnâ??t know it even happened until channel 2 in NYC called