"Thank God we were rescued. I had tears in my eyes," Ms Appel said.
A sailing trip from Hawaii to Tahiti turned into the stuff of nightmares for two women when the engine of their sailboat stopped working almost a month into their journey. Believing they would make it to land by sail, they drifted across the vast ocean. Lost at sea for five months, they were finally rescued by the US Navy on October 25.
Honolulu residents Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiaba, travelling with their dogs, began their journey early in May. After their engine died on May 30, they relied on the boat's sail for the rest of their journey. However, after not making it to Tahiti after two months at sea, they began issuing distress calls daily. They were sadly far away from any shore or vessel to get a response back.
They were eventually spotted by a Taiwanese fishing vessel about 900 miles southeast of Japan. The US Navy was alerted about the situation and the USS Ashland rescued the women and their dogs. They had managed to survive thanks to a year's worth of food supply and water purifiers they had on board.
"Thank God we were rescued. I had tears in my eyes. It was incredibly emotional," Ms Appel told
Star Advertiser.
Jennifer Appel being welcomed on USS Ashland
One of the two dogs on the sailboat being rescued
A video of their rescue has also been shared online by the US Navy. Watch the incredible moment they realised help had arrived:
"I'm grateful for their service to our country. They saved our lives. The pride and smiles we had when we saw (US Navy) on the horizon was pure relief," Ms Appel said according to a
release by the US Navy.
Tasha Fuiaba climbing the ladder to board USS Ashland
The sailboat was deemed 'unseaworthy' during the rescue so Ms Appel, Ms Fuiaba and their two dogs were taken onboard the USS Ashland. They were provided with medical aid and food.Click for more
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