The 17 year old girl who had been missing since Saturday evening was found alive this Sunday afternoon, after spending 20 hours adrift at sea.
The young woman was on a paddle board, which was blown out to sea by the wind at around 8 pm on Saturday, preventing her from returning to the beach.
“The father even tried and jumped into the water, but unfortunately he couldn't grab it, he didn't have the physical capacity to reach the board”, said local Commander of the Maritime Police of Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira, Commander João Afonso Martins, who coordinated the searches for the young woman.
She was found early yesterday evening by the merchant ship MSC Reef, which was heading to the port of Tangier, in Morocco, still on top of her paddle board, about 25 miles south of Vila Real de Santo António.
The young woman is currently at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA), with her mother.
Clinical Director Horácio Guerreiro said “after so long without food, exposed to the sun and with stress, the girl is naturally very tired and has some muscle and skin pain, but she has no serious injuries. She is in a stable condition, and it is hoped she will be discharged within 24 to 48 hours.
We wish her a speedy recovery!
