Greek coast guard authorities on Sunday found a 47-year-old New Zealand woman who had been missing for days at sea, alive and well.
According to authorities, the woman had set off in a small inflatable dinghy with no motor on Friday to buy supplies from Agkali Bay on the island of Folegandros but was swept out to sea by strong currents.
Upon news of her disappearance on Saturday morning, a search and rescue operation was launched involving four coast guard patrol boats and land forces on the islands of Santorini, Ios, Naxos, Folegandros and Milos, as well as three private boats and a Navy helicopter.
The missing woman was found by a Heraklion coast guard patrol boat about 55 nautical miles northwest of Heraklion and 40 nautical miles southwest of Folegandros.
Although in good condition and able to walk without assistance upon her arrival in Heraklion, the woman was taken to the city's Venizelion Hospital in an ambulance, in accordance with procedure, for a medical assessment and the provision of any necessary first aid.
