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| Great Barrier Reef divers found | Great Barrier Reef divers found |
| (about 24 hours later) | |
| Two scuba divers have been found alive after spending a night missing on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. | Two scuba divers have been found alive after spending a night missing on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. |
| Briton Richard Neely, 38, and 40-year-old American Allison Dalton were rescued nine miles from where they left their chartered diving boat. | Briton Richard Neely, 38, and 40-year-old American Allison Dalton were rescued nine miles from where they left their chartered diving boat. |
| They were lifted to safety after an 18-hour search by a dozen aircraft. | They were lifted to safety after an 18-hour search by a dozen aircraft. |
| The divers were flown to a hospital in the state of Queensland, where they are said to be in good spirits despite suffering mild hypothermia. | The divers were flown to a hospital in the state of Queensland, where they are said to be in good spirits despite suffering mild hypothermia. |
| They were spotted by a rescue helicopter near the Whitsunday Islands off Queensland's coast. | They were spotted by a rescue helicopter near the Whitsunday Islands off Queensland's coast. |
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| Couple rescued from shark infested waters after 20 hours | Couple rescued from shark infested waters after 20 hours |
| Officials said the two were lucky to be alive, and credited their survival to their diving experience and ability to remain calm. | Officials said the two were lucky to be alive, and credited their survival to their diving experience and ability to remain calm. |
| "They strapped themselves together using their weight belts, they conserved energy, stayed as a pair and awaited rescue," said Shane Chelepy, a Queensland police official. | "They strapped themselves together using their weight belts, they conserved energy, stayed as a pair and awaited rescue," said Shane Chelepy, a Queensland police official. |
| The divers had become lost on Friday when they resurfaced 200 yards (metres) from their dive boat after a reef dive. | The divers had become lost on Friday when they resurfaced 200 yards (metres) from their dive boat after a reef dive. |
| Officials said it was inevitable such mishaps would occur on the Great Barrier Reef - the world's largest coral reef system - which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney. | Officials said it was inevitable such mishaps would occur on the Great Barrier Reef - the world's largest coral reef system - which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney. |
| Mr Neely, from Swaffham, Norfolk, trained at the West Norfolk Sub Aqua Club. Diving officer Simon Phelan, who trained Mr Neely, said: "Knowing Rich, he's quite a calm chap. | |
| "He always looked on the bright side, so I am sure he was keeping his spirits up the whole time." |