Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Abby Sunderland Found Alive & Well

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

The 16-year-old Thousand Oaks teen trying to sail around the world alone was spotted and found to be in good condition. While in the rough seas of the Indian Ocean yesterday morning, Abby Sunderland set off her emergency beacons, prompting a search and rescue missions while the world awaited news of what happened.

A plane sent out to look for Sunderland spotted her and made radio contact. Her boat "Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down," her family wrote on her blog. "The weather conditions are abating. Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine!" Boats that launched to locate her had a 40-hour journey ahead of them. They should arrive by the end of today.

The incident has people throwing criticism to the Sunderlands, all who are sailing veterans. Father Laurene Sunderland told ABC's "Good Morning America,""How many teenagers die in car accidents every year? Should we stop them from driving cars? ... Life is dangerous."

Last year, Abby's older brother Zac Sunderland successfully sailed around the world solo when he was 17.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today