jinxed? - updated

It has happend again. My sisters old colleague from Oceanic in Kata Beach - Rich - has been lost at sea again. You can read about the first time here. That time it was the boat Rhapsody that sank and my sister and Rich floated around in the sea outside Thailand for 8 hours. Now we can read about Rich adventures outside Australia in the international press.

"Great Barrier Reef divers found
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.
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."
BBC News
BBC Video

"As sharks prowled, forgotten divers waited ... and waited
In open waters off Australia's Great Barrier Reef, British diver Richard Neely and girlfriend Allyson Dalton tied themselves together as they drifted, trying desperately to be seen by spotter planes and searching ships. Barbara McMahon in Sydney reports on their dramatic rescue.

A British holidaymaker and his American girlfriend who survived for 19 hours in shark-infested waters off the Great Barrier Reef, have told how a rescue helicopter failed to spot them waving frantically for help."
Guardian UK

"Divers sell story for $1.1m as the blame game begins
A PASSENGER on the dive boat from which a couple went missing for 19 hours off the Queensland coast has hit out at reports that the dive company was to blame for the potentially disastrous incident.

Meantime the couple has reportedly been paid $A1.1 million by the Sunday Mirror for their story.

American Alison Dalton and Briton Dick Neely clung to each other in darkness and high seas in shark-infested waters near Hayman Island, after they drifted away from the dive boat Pacific Star on Friday afternoon.

They were rescued on Saturday morning after they were spotted by a plane, floating 7.8 nautical miles from where they were last seen. Both were flown to Townsville Hospital and were released on Saturday night."
The Age


And here's the latest update:

"Media windfall allows divers to pay rescue costs

THE divers who sold their story of being lost at sea for 19 hours for $1.1m have agreed to help cover the rescue costs.

Richard Neely, 38, from the United Kingdom, and his American partner Allyson Dalton, 40, were diving on the Great Barrier Reef on Friday when they surfaced too far from their chartered boat for those aboard to see them or hear their cries for help.

They were rescued on Saturday morning after a plane spotted them floating 7.8 nautical miles from where they were last seen.

It has been reported the couple sold their story for $1.1 million to the UK's Sunday Mirror.

But Brisbane-based couriermail.com.au has said the figure is less than $10,000, but the couple is negotiating interviews with other overseas media that could fetch $250,000.

Dive investigators from Queensland's Office of Workplace Health and Safety are now investigating the dive company, which reportedly took three hours to raise the alarm after realising the couple was missing.

Police have finished their investigation, and have confirmed no charges will be laid.

Debate has now started over whether the dive company or the couple should pick up the bill for the rescue, which involved seven helicopters, three planes and six boats."
The Australian

19 hours! Not bad! And 1.1 million Australian Dollars??! That would have been nice - wouldn't it?!