A 17-year old girl has been rescued by a containership after being swept out to sea on a paddle board.

On Saturday evening (15 April 2023), Portuguese Erica Vicente was standup paddleboarding just off the beach in Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal, when strong winds reportedly swept her away from the shore, leaving her unable to paddle back.

Portuguese and Spanish authorities launched a search and rescue mission, dispatching two search and rescue aircraft to look for the teenager.

After more than 20 hours clinging to her paddleboard, suffering from hypothermia and sunburn Vicente was found by the containership MSC Reef, having drifted 25 nautical miles out into the Atlantic Ocean.

In a statement, the Portuguese National Maritime Authority said: ‘The young woman had severe hypothermia and the support of the Portuguese Air Force was requested so she could be transported to Faro airport.’

A rescue helicopter convened with MSC Reef and Vicente was hoisted off the ship.

Vicente is now recovering at the Faro Hospital, in the Algarve capital Faro, where she is said to be in a stable condition.

In January 2023, an Australian couple survived three days ay sea after their paddleboard was caught in a strong current.

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