This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7035222.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Stranded pair 'lucky to be alive' Stranded pair 'lucky to be alive'
(about 2 hours later)
The Indian coast guard says that a couple who survived eight days at sea after their yacht sank in a storm are "incredibly lucky to be alive".The Indian coast guard says that a couple who survived eight days at sea after their yacht sank in a storm are "incredibly lucky to be alive".
An Israeli woman and an Italian man were running out of emergency rations by the time they were rescued.An Israeli woman and an Italian man were running out of emergency rations by the time they were rescued.
A coast guard official in Mumbai (Bombay) told the BBC that pair were severely dehydrated after being picked up by a tug boat in the Arabian sea. A coast guard official in Mumbai (Bombay) told the BBC that the pair were severely dehydrated after being picked up by a boat in the Arabian sea.
The couple received hospital treatment and have now returned home.The couple received hospital treatment and have now returned home.
The rescued sailors had to live on a life raft for more than a week after their vessel sank.The rescued sailors had to live on a life raft for more than a week after their vessel sank.
They have been identified as 27-year-old Libi Belozerzki and 35-year-old Mori Pierpaolo.They have been identified as 27-year-old Libi Belozerzki and 35-year-old Mori Pierpaolo.
Coast guard officials told the BBC that they were intending to sail from the Maldives to the Red Sea in their yacht.Coast guard officials told the BBC that they were intending to sail from the Maldives to the Red Sea in their yacht.
It was quite an experience, but they survived Israeli Consul General Daniel ZonshineIt was quite an experience, but they survived Israeli Consul General Daniel Zonshine
But it sank in a late monsoon storm.But it sank in a late monsoon storm.
Ships in the area were told to look out for the pair after they sent out SOS messages and after the Rome-based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre lost contact with them.Ships in the area were told to look out for the pair after they sent out SOS messages and after the Rome-based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre lost contact with them.
They were eventually picked up by a Belgian tug on 3 October, and handed over to the Indian coast guard.They were eventually picked up by a Belgian tug on 3 October, and handed over to the Indian coast guard.
Officials say that their emergency food and fresh water supplies were running low, and that they were suffering from heavy sun-burn.Officials say that their emergency food and fresh water supplies were running low, and that they were suffering from heavy sun-burn.
Israel's Consul General in Mumbai, Daniel Zonshine, told the Associated Press news agency that the pair returned to Italy on Monday after being issued with new travel documents following the loss of all their possessions.Israel's Consul General in Mumbai, Daniel Zonshine, told the Associated Press news agency that the pair returned to Italy on Monday after being issued with new travel documents following the loss of all their possessions.
"It was quite an experience, but they survived," he said."It was quite an experience, but they survived," he said.
Correspondents say that this time of the year can be a dangerous time to sail because the weather is deceptively calm.Correspondents say that this time of the year can be a dangerous time to sail because the weather is deceptively calm.
Late monsoon storms can suddenly hit the normally calm Arabian Sea.Late monsoon storms can suddenly hit the normally calm Arabian Sea.
"People often sail all the way up from Australia. With the weather turning better, they must have thought things were coming back to normal and so set sail," a coast guard official told AP."People often sail all the way up from Australia. With the weather turning better, they must have thought things were coming back to normal and so set sail," a coast guard official told AP.