News - National
16 year old girl in distress in Indian Ocean
Posted: Jun 10, 2010 9:43 PM by Greg Boyce
Updated: Jun 10, 2010 9:43 PM
When Abby Sunderland's family last heard from her this morning, she was in a heavy storm, and reporting 30-foot swells. But a family spokesman says she was not in distress.
But now, her emergency beacons have been activated, and there's been no further contact with the 16-year-old girl from Southern California. She was in the southern Indian Ocean -- trying to complete a solo sailing trip around the world. A family spokesman says, "We've got to get a plane out there quick." He says the family is talking with U.S. and other governments about organizing a search of the remote area between southern Africa and Australia.
Abby's brother Zac, who made that same trip at the age of 17, says her boat probably hasn't been completely submerged. He says another beacon would have been triggered at a depth of 15 feet. He told Los Angeles radio station KNX that two boats are headed toward her last known position, but they're nearly two days away. Zac Sunderland says she's "in the middle of nowhere."
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