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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Countries paying teen’s rescue cost defend sea law

TANALEE SMITH

Associated Press Writer

ADELAIDE, Australia – The first day Abby Sunderland was stranded in the Southern Ocean, Australia’s rescue agency chartered a jet to fly over the area where her emergency beacon was activated.

The 11-hour flight cost an estimated 110,000 Australian dollars (US $94,500).

The second day, after locating her, the agency sent another plane to coordinate her pickup by ships racing toward her damaged and drifting yacht.