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Crew safe after mini-submarine surfaces
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-07 14:08
Seven people on board a submarine trapped for nearly three days under the
Pacific Ocean were rescued Sunday after a British remote-controlled vehicle cut
away the undersea cables that had snarled their vessel, allowing it to surface,
the Associated Press reported.
A video grab shows a Russian vessel involved
in rescue work in the Pacific Ocean August 6, 2005.
[Reuters] |
The seven, whose oxygen supplies had been dwindling amid underwater
temperatures in the mid-40s, appeared to be in satisfactory condition, naval
spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said. They were examined in the clinic of a naval
ship, then transferred to a larger vessel to return to the mainland.
"The crew opened the hatch themselves, exited the vessel and climbed aboard a
speedboat," said Rear Adm. Vladimir Pepelyayev, deputy head of the naval general
staff.
"I can only thank our English colleagues for their joint work and the help
they gave in order to complete this operation within the time we had available —
that is, before the oxygen reserves ran out," he said.
The sub surfaced at 4:26 p.m. local time Sunday, some three days after
becoming stranded in 600 feet of water off the Pacific Coast on Thursday and
after a series of failed attempts to drag it closer to shore or haul it closer
to the surface. It was carrying six sailors and a representative of the company
that manufactured it.
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov traveled to Kamchatka on Saturday.
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