12 rescued after two months adrift
NZPA-AP Honolulu Twelve people who survived two months drifting aimlessly at sea in an overcrowded 6m cabin cruiser will be sent to their homes in the central Pacific republic of Kiribati as soon as transportation can be arranged, according to the United States Coast Guard. The 12 survivors were all reported to be in good condition yesterday at Truk Island in the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific, where they were taken after
having been rescued on Friday. The survivors told the authorities that nine of their friends had died during the trip, which had started out as a two-hour trip between Tarawa Island and Abaiang Island, in Kiribati, on March 26. A Coast Guard spokesman, Mr Keith Spangler, said that soon after the trip had begun the boat’s only engine had failed. Food had’ run out after about two weeks, after which the islanders had survived on fish and rain water they had caught with their own hands. The boat was spotted about 1120 km south-east of Guam on Friday by the helicopter of a tuna vessel.
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Press, 1 June 1981, Page 6
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18512 rescued after two months adrift Press, 1 June 1981, Page 6
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