SUNK BOAT PAIR DRIFT FOR DAYS

Sunday Mirror, Nov 16, 2008 by TOM WORDEN

TWO men were saved yesterday after three nights adrift in a 6ft life raft.

Briton Jay Patel and his Belgian assistant took to the inflatable craft after their 44ft motorboat sank in rough seas.

A massive search was launched when the two, who had set off from Majorca, failed to arrive in Tarragona, Spain, and relatives raised the alarm.

Ships, helicopters and planes took part in the hunt. A coastguard boat finally found the two - who had water and biscuits - four miles from an island near Majorca. Miguel Chicon, director of the Maritime Rescue Centre in Palma, Majorca, said: "It's a miracle they have been found.

"The last contact anyone had with them was on Wednesday night when they spoke to their relatives to say they had hit high seas and the boat was rolling and pitching "On Friday we began to think the boat must have capsized and began searching for debris or a life craft.

"I called the captain's wife with the news he was OK. She was overcome - she could not speak."