Father And Daughter Swim Five Hours After Boat Sinks
POSTED: 6:58 a.m. EDT June 24, 2003
UPDATED: 12:22 p.m. EDT June 24, 2003
MELBOURNE, Fla. -- A father and his 11-year-old daughter swam five hours to shore after their 8-foot sailboat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean, authorities said.
Benjamin Dilalla Jr., 42, and his daughter Celeste (photo left) were found Monday evening lying on the shores near Floridana Beach after a daylong search, said Brevard County Sheriff's Agent Gary Harrell.
Suffering from hypothermia, they were taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center. The father was in fair condition Tuesday while the daughter was in good condition, hospital spokesman Chris McGahee said.
The two apparently began sailing late Sunday night after Dilalla parked his truck at a beach access in Melbourne Beach, about 10 miles north of where they swam ashore. They are from the DeLand area.
Police found the truck and became suspicious early Monday because indications showed the boat had been dragged to the water.
"That's when the hunt began," Harrell said.
Investigators became even more concerned when debris -- including a seat, a mast and a pair of men's boots -- washed ashore.
"We were fearing the worst that the boat broke up out there," Harrell said.
Dilalla's daughter told investigators she slept in the boat most of the night, but woke up in the morning to find it taking on water, Harrell said.
After the vessel overturned, she said they held on to the hull until they could see land, then began the grueling five-hour swim to shore.
A helicopter, boats and all-terrain vehicles searched for the boat Monday, but it was not recovered.
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Father And Daughter Swim Five Hours After Boat Sinks
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