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Lost divers 'should pay rescue' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Australian authorities have suggested that two foreign divers rescued after 18 hours in the sea should pay towards the cost of saving them. | |
Briton Richard Neely, 38, and American Allison Dalton, 40, were separated from their boat on the Great Barrier Reef. | |
The rescue operation off the coast of Queensland involved seven helicopters, three planes and six boats. | The rescue operation off the coast of Queensland involved seven helicopters, three planes and six boats. |
State premier Anna Bligh suggested Mr Neely foot some of the bill after he sold his story to a UK Sunday tabloid. | State premier Anna Bligh suggested Mr Neely foot some of the bill after he sold his story to a UK Sunday tabloid. |
'Don't mention sharks' | |
The divers became lost on Friday when they resurfaced 200 metres from their dive boat after exploring a reef. | |
But they were not seen by crew or other divers on the boat and a strong current carried them away. | |
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Rescue crews find the divers | |
At one stage a venomous snake reared in Ms Dalton's face, and they feared they would be attacked by sharks. | At one stage a venomous snake reared in Ms Dalton's face, and they feared they would be attacked by sharks. |
"I truly thought we were going to die. Sharks were on our mind the entire time - but neither of us mentioned the 'S' word," Mr Neely, of Swaffham, Norfolk, told the Sunday Mirror. | |
"We were shouting and whistling but nobody saw us. We saw other divers climbing back on to the boat. The boat stayed where it was, on a mooring, but we just kept drifting further away. There was nothing we could do." | |
Insurance | |
After the rescue, the couple were flown to hospital where they were in good spirits despite suffering mild hypothermia. | After the rescue, the couple were flown to hospital where they were in good spirits despite suffering mild hypothermia. |
The couple's only media interview so far has been with the Sunday Mirror, for which they were rumoured to have been paid more than $1m (£533,000). | |
The pair's agent, celebrity publicist Max Markson, said that figure was inflated. He said other interviews with international media were in the works. | |
The rumour of large interview fees has sparked calls for the couple to pay towards the cost of their rescue. | |
"If they are going to profit from their story I don't think a contribution back would go astray," said Queensland premier Ms Bligh. | |
But Mr Markson said the couple's insurance would cover the cost of the rescue. |