Baby who fell ill on circumnavigating sailboat transferred to Navy warship, returning to U.S.

4/6/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Eric and Charlotte Kaufman with their daughters, Lyra, 1, and Cora, 3.
Eric and Charlotte Kaufman with their daughters, Lyra, 1, and Cora, 3.

SAN DIEGO — Navy sailors have rescued a family with a 1-year-old girl who fell ill on a disabled sailboat hundreds of miles off the Mexican coast and are now en route to San Diego.

The Coast Guard says the baby, along with her parents and 3-year-old sister, boarded the USS Vandegrift today. The baby girl was in stable condition and was heading to San Diego for medical treatment.

Authorities said the 36-foot sailboat, which lost steering and communication abilities, sent a satellite call for help on Thursday.

A California Air National Guard crew parachuted into the water and reached the boat Thursday night. The crew stabilized the girl and stayed by her side until the ship arrived.

A relative said the girl’s family was attempting to circle the world.