Survivor Says NFL Players Let Selves Drift Away

Abby Sunderland had sent up distress signal in Indian Ocean

(AP) - The parents of a California teenager who was stranded at sea say she has been rescued by a French fishing crew. Laurence Sunderland, the father of 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, told reporters outside his home early today that maritime authorities had contacted him to confirm the rescue in heavy seas in the southern Indian Ocean. More»

Residents plan 'last swim' before more oil arrives

(NEWSER) - Beachgoers in Florida got their first taste of the Gulf oil spill today as tar balls—some as large as hubcaps—washed up on Panhandle beaches. BP crews at some locations swept up the refuse, instructing visitors not to touch the balls. Although Florida has yet to declare swimming in the Gulf unsafe, some locals are rushing to the beaches to take a "last swim," the Pensacola News Journal reports. Meanwhile, President Obama arrived in New Orleans for his third visit since the Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 20. More»

Oil companies shutting down rigs, evacuating workers

(NEWSER) - Hurricane Ida is surging toward the Gulf Coast, triggering emergency warnings in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. Ida "threatens the safety and security" of citizens along the state's southeast coastline, said an emergency declaration by Lousiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Forecasters are hoping Ida will lose force as it heads north, but winds were clocked last night at 105 mph. Ida and an accompanying low pressure system killed 124 people in San Salvador in floods and mudslides over the weekend. More»

(NEWSER) - If you love swimming but tire of the ordinary and the chlorine-scented, consider these "unusual or cool places" uncovered by WebUrbanist:

• The Dead Sea: Lie back and read a good book in the world's saltiest body of water, which will likely keep you afloat while delivering "an awesome sensation."

(NEWSER) - The fishing boat that capsized earlier this month leaving three football players presumed dead was improperly anchored, the AP reports. After interviewing the lone survivor, a Florida agency has determined that when the passengers attempted to free the anchor by gunning the boat’s motor, the craft was swamped and the men thrown into the water. Inexperience, carelessness, and an approaching storm were also cited. More»