FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2010
Contact: Tom Pfeifer, (202) 225-5811
Rep. Gallegly thanks Australia for finding Abby Sunderland
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) today called the Australian ambassador to the United States, the Hon. Kim Beazley, AC, to thank him for Australia’s role in finding 16-year-old sailor Abby Sunderland of Thousand Oaks.
Gallegly also called Abby’s parents, Laurence and Marianne Sunderland, to assure them his office remains committed to helping clear any obstacles to Abby’s return.
In addition, Gallegly thanked the U.S. State Department, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard for their roles in finding Abby.
“The Australian government took it upon itself to charter a Qantas Airbus A330 to fly out to the Indian Ocean and locate Abby,” Gallegly said. “They have asked for no compensation in return for their act of compassion for a 16-year-old girl in distress. They are also coordinating her rescue by boat. These actions are greatly appreciated and should be publicly noted.”
After being contacted by the Sunderland family Thursday, Gallegly, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called the State Department, the Office of the Defense Secretary, and the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure a coordinated search and rescue effort was undertaken.
“We are all very grateful Abby was located quickly and is apparently unharmed,” Gallegly said. “We look forward to having her reunited with her family soon.”
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