A U.S. Navy warship, the integral part of an elaborate rescue mission, has successfully reached the sailboat carrying the sick infant and her family who have been stranded hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico according to the victims’ relatives.
The multimillion dollar warship known as the USS Vandergrift has reportedly made contact with the 36-foot sailboat called the “Rebel Heart†located approximately 900 miles from Cabo San Lucas.
Elaborate rescue mission for the Kaufman Family: Eric and Charlotte Kaufman with their daughters Lyra, left, and Cora, before they set sail
Courtesy of Facebook
The ailing one-year-girl on board is severely ill.
Eric and Charlotte Kaufman, from San Diego, California set sail two weeks ago with the intent of making a journey around the world with their two daughters, Lyra and Cora, ages one and three.
A distress call was received from their boat on Thursday reporting that their youngest daughter was violently ill, and to make matters worse, the boat had lost all steering and communication capabilities.
The California National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing coordinated with the Navy to send  four pararescuemen who launched from a plane into the ocean and boarded the Rebel Heart to administer medical aid to the child.
By Saturday, the rescuers reported that the 1-year-old was in stable condition as they waited to rendezvous with the Vandergrift.
The Navy frigate made contact with the family just after 4 p.m. Saturday, according to a Facebook post by Sariah English who is Charlotte’s sister.
Eric Kaufman with his two daughters Lyra and Cora
Courtesy of Facebook
English was able to speak to her sister shortly thereafter, and Charlotte said the family was expected to be transported to the Vandergrift Sunday at 6:30 a.m.
The method of how the transfer will unfold is still to be determined according to 2nd Lt. Roderick Bersamina with the 129th Rescue Wing. That answer depends on how stable the baby is.
“The bottom line is the safety and security of not only the family members that are on board, but also of all the personnel that are involved to save the infant. That is paramount.†said Bersamina.
The family is reportedly allowed one trip to retrieve as much of their personal belongings as they can carry off the boat before they leave it behind in the ocean.
The Rebel Heart will not be abandoned or sunk, rather they will tag it and let it float along.
If all goes according to plan, the Kaufmans are expected to arrive back in San Diego on Monday. English said the family has requested to stay at a Navy base hotel, after which they plan to travel to New Mexico, where English resides.
Distress call made for severely ill baby Lyra pictured here with mom, Charlotte Kaufman
Courtesy of Facebook
English is in the process of collecting donations for the Kaufmans with the help of some friends in San Diego, since the family will have abandoned most of their possessions.
It is still uncertain as to the cause of the baby’s illness. English reportedly told NBC7 that her niece had been experiencing fever, diarrhea and vomiting along with a large rash that had developed on her body.
On March 11, in a post on her family travel blog, Charlotte had said that both she and her 1-year-old daughter had tested positive for salmonella.
Elaborate Rescue Mission Successful as Navy Warship Reaches Boat With Sick Infant
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