Community Corner
[UPDATED] Missing Bounty Sailor Rescued But Died in Hospital; Captain Still Missing
Claudene Christian, who was in critical condition after being rescued and airlifted to safety, has died. She was sailing aboard a tall ship bound from New London which started taking on water during Hurricane Sandy off the North Carolina Coast.
One of two people missing from the to Florida, is in critical condition after she was found "unresponsive."
According to the USA Today, the Coast Guard rescued 42-year-old Claudene Christian several hours after Jayhawk helicopters plucked 14 people from life rafts. The crew abandoned the ship after it began to take on water while sailing off Cape Hatteras during Hurricane Sandy.
NBC News reported that Christian was unresponsive when pulled from the water and taken to Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City, N.C. According to her website, Christian founded the Cheerleader Doll Company in 1988 while a college freshman.
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Several news agencies have erroneously reported that Christian is deceased. Patrick Detwiler, spokesman for the hospital, said Christian is in critical condition.
The captain, 63-year-old Robin Walbridge, remains unaccounted for. According to the Bounty's cached website, Walbridge has captained the ship since 1995 and grew up in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the ship was heading when it went down.
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Both Christian and Walbridge were reportedly wearing cold water survival suits and life jackets.
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