Erica Vicente, from Azeitão, south of Lisbon, was paddle boarding on the well-touristed Algarve coast late on Saturday afternoon when the wind and ocean currents pushed her out to sea, native media stories.
Her father instantly referred to as emergency companies, sparking an unsuccessful search involving vehicles, boats and helicopters.
Wearing solely a bikini, she spent the night time alone uncovered to the chilly and many of the subsequent day within the scorching solar as temperatures soared into the excessive 20s.
Finally, simply after 5.15pm on Sunday (2.15am on Saturday AEST), the crew of service provider ship MSC Reef noticed the lady because it headed for Tangier in Morocco and pulled her to security.
After a complete night time and nearly a full day on the open ocean, Erica was affected by an elevated state of hypothermia, authorities stated, however improved quickly on the air drive flight to hospital.
She had first-degree sunburn however was in any other case bodily unhurt, based on a psychologist from the National Institute of Medical Emergency.
Even with such a optimistic consequence, Sonia Cunha from the institute’s Crisis Support and Intervention Centre stated the incident was “potentially traumatic”.
Horácio Guerreiro, one of many medical doctors liable for her restoration in Faro Hospital, stated the “exhausted” 17-year-old was a “warrior”.
“With so much time in the sea, in conditions of maximum stress, it’s surprising for everyone,” he stated.
“You need survival instinct, self-control. This girl is a heroine, no doubt.”
Port captain and Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira Maritime Police native commander Afonso Martins stated the primary rescuers arrived inside 25 minutes of Erica’s dad elevating the alarm, and service provider ships such because the MSC Reef have been additionally warned to be looking out.
He stated the lady “panicked, got scared and couldn’t paddle”.
Her dad was close by and dived into the water however could not attain her, left to look at on as his daughter floated away, Martins stated.
Almost a complete day later, following an nearly moonless night time that additional difficult rescue efforts, Erica was lastly rescued.
On Monday, she was recovering together with her mother and father by her facet.
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Source: www.9news.com.au
