Couple avoid 'S-word'

2008-05-25 17:18

Brisbane - A British diver thought he and his American girlfriend would be eaten alive by sharks as they spent a night floating over Australia's Great Barrier Reef, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

Dick Neely, 38, and Alison Dalton, 40, were plucked by a helicopter from the ocean on Saturday off the eastern coast after an overnight air search.

The couple tied their wetsuits together and huddled to share body heat during 19 hours adrift in 24°C waters, Neely told Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper in a paid interview.

"I truly thought we were going to die. Sharks were on our mind the entire time, but neither of us mentioned the S-word," Neely was quoted as saying.

"We just had to stay positive and calm to help each other through the ordeal and not think about being eaten alive."

The pair became lost on Friday afternoon when they resurfaced after diving on a reef and found themselves 200m from their chartered dive boat and out of sight of its crew.

A rescue helicopter pilot who winched the couple from the ocean said on Sunday they were in good humour when rescued.

"Considering they were out there for 19 hours, they were in very good spirits when they got back," David Williams told Australia's Network Seven television.

"They were cracking quite a few jokes about their ordeal."

- AP