Posted on 12/06/2010 11:05:06 AM PST by woofie
Breaking news: Body of New Mexico balloonist Abruzzo, co-pilot recovered
(AP) ROME — An Italian fishing boat on Monday pulled the remains of two American balloonists from the Adriatic Sea, ending a two-month hunt for the pair's bodies in one of ballooning's darkest chapters.
The boat hauled in the balloon and its gondola with the bodies of the Americans still inside while fishing 11 miles (17 kilometers) north of Vieste before dawn, said Cmdr. Guido Limongelli of the Vieste port. Viete is on Italy's eastern Adriatic coast in the southern Puglia region, which makes up the "heel" of boot-shaped Italy.
He said documents found in the gondola confirmed the identities of Richard Abruzzo, 47, of Albuquerque, and Carol Rymer Davis, 65, of Denver.
The two had been participating in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race when contact was lost Sept. 29 as they flew over the Adriatic. They had taken off with some 20 other balloons from the English city of Bristol on Sept. 25.
Search crews looked for the veteran balloonists in vain for a week before determining that their craft had plunged toward the water at 50 mph (80 kph) and they likely didn't survive.
The gondola appeared to be remarkably intact despite the impact: the outer wicker frame had just a few holes punched in it, and cords, canvas flaps and ropes were still attached to the inside. A heap of torn white fabric appeared to be the balloon shell itself.
See the full story on Santafenewmexican.com and link to international coverage.
How sad the search did not continue.
NM Ping
It’s called an “EPIRB” They work.
Thanks for the ping woofie.
I’m glad the bodies were recovered for the famililies’ sake.
Hubby and I were saying the same thing when we heard the news this morning. Glad the families have closure. Still so sad though.
Ben was his Father.
CORRECTION: Richard was Ben’s son. His dad died in a plane crash in 1985.
Thank you. Mistake noted seconds before you posted.
I figured we’d overlapped.
It was terribly sad and what a loss to not only their families, but the ballooning community. I spoke with many folks I know that attended the balloon fiesta and they all said very similar things - how tragic to lose 2 of the best balloonists in the world.
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