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After 50 Days Lost at Sea, 3 Teens Rescued

Boys reportedly survived by eating a seagull

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 25, 2010 10:36 AM CST

(AP) – Three teens who have been missing in the South Pacific for 50 days—and were already eulogized in a memorial service—have been found alive by a New Zealand fishing boat. The boys, two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old, disappeared while attempting to row between two islands in the New Zealand territory of Tokelau in early October and were given up for dead after an extensive search involving the country's air force.

Their craft had drifted 800 miles to a desolate part of the Pacific northeast of Fiji, when the crew of a tuna boat saw them frantically waving for help yesterday afternoon.The rescue came not a moment too soon: The first mate of the ship that found them said they had begun to drink sea water because it hadn't rained in the past few nights. Local media also reported that the boys survived by eating a seagull that had landed on their boat.

A photo of a different boat that was once feared lost at sea.
A photo of a different boat that was once feared lost at sea.   (AP Photo/Australian Maritime Safety Authority via the Sunderland family)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
TommyTuriace
May 23, 2011 12:48 AM CDT
 In 1970, artist and adventurer Julian Ritter and two crew mates drifted for 87 days in the Pacific, forty of those days without food. When the crew was rescued by the USS Niagara Falls in what was called serendipity, the emaciated crew was pronounced "days from death". The unrelenting spirit to survive seems to have saved these people - a common thread among survival stories. You can read more of the ordeal at the Wikipedia article on Julian Ritter at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Ritter
professortech
Nov 25, 2010 9:50 PM CST
Well at least they can selff the video rights to the story.
billbobaggins
Nov 25, 2010 11:54 AM CST
50 days? Wow...that's some serious strength and will. These kids will be able to achieve anything in life now, and it will all pale in comparison. Good to know they've made it!

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