Atlantic Swimmer Lost

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 2

Atlantic Swimmer Lost

tNZ. Pres* Assn. —Copyright) NEW YORK, June 29. The marathon swimmer, Britt Sullivan, aged 29, plagued by a school of sharks in her attempt to swim across the Atlantic Ocean, vanished during the night and was still missing late today, United Press Inter-

national reported. Helicopters and boats crisscrossed the waters off Fire Island, a summer resort strip off the coast of Long Island, where she was last seen.

Captain Laurence Griffin, skipper of the 35ft boat escorting the swimmer, told the Coast Guard that she had to be pulled from the water last night because of a big school of sharks which came within 30 yards of her.

A short time later she reentered the water and began swimming once again toward Montauk Point on the eastern tip' of Long Island where she was to turn and head out across the Atlantic toward Europe. It was at this point that she vanished. The boat had moved about a quarter of a mite ahead and waited for her. The captain explained this was standard procedure. About 10.30 pm. the divorced mother of a seven-month-old daughter disappeared. She was in an “unsinkable” rubber suit coloured black with yellow stripes to make it easier to see in the night

Attached to the suit was a light, a canteen, a belt, knife and dye markers to attract the attention of searchers in case she got into trouble. The boat searched for her about 45 minutes then sent

an emergency call to the Coast Guard.

The swimmer apparently decided not to use a special “shark cage” when she reentered the water. The cage, which she had described as an “overgrown- baby crib” was designed to enclose her in a protective mesh against sharks. But she did not like to use it

Miss Sullivan plunged into the ocean at Coney Island last Wednesday and planned to swim to Montauk Point by the end of this week, then pick up a larger escort boat and continue her 3178-mile swim to Europe. She thought it would take five months.

She had planned to swim 18 hours a day and rest six while stroking toward Europe. Her timetable had been upset during the last few days because of high waves. However, the seas were calm and visibility good when she disappeared. While in the water. Miss Sullivan had stopped briefly at periodic intervals to sip liquids, eat light snacks and smoke cigarettes.