Boys missing at sea for a week ‘never gave up hope’

TWO boys missing at sea for nearly a week have spoken of their nightmare ordeal in the Atlantic Ocean.

Josh Long and Troy Driscoll huddled together at night for warmth while sharing a wetsuit they found in their boat, with one wearing the top, the other the bottom. They spent their days searching the horizon for help, praying and singing hymns, and Driscoll, 15, resorted to eating raw jellyfish, which made him nauseous. They tried to sleep during the day, when the seas were calmer. At night, the boys were buffeted by 8ft waves.

"It was the first time I got mad at God in my life," said Driscoll yesterday. "I asked 'Why me? What did I do to deserve this'?"

Then they saw a fishing boat on the horizon late on Saturday. They were later rescued off the North Carolina coast, more than 100 miles from where they set out off in South Carolina to fish.

Long, 17, left the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital last night. Driscoll, who suffered second-degree burns on his face and feet, was expected to remain two or three more days.

"I can honestly say I never gave up hope," said Long.

"God had us in his hands the whole time."

The boys had set out to fish for shark near a sandbar off Sullivans Island in their small sailboat on April 24. Forecasters that day were warning boaters about rough conditions.

"We didn't plan on going way out we got caught in a rip tide," said Long. "We knew we were in trouble."