Boat finds US balloonists

THE remains of two American balloonists missing over the Adriatic since September 29 have been found by a fishing boat, an Italian port official said yesterday.

Commander Guido Limongelli said the fishing boat hauled in the balloon cabin with the bodies of the Americans still on board early yesterday.

Limongelli said documents found in the cabin confirmed the identities of Richard Abruzzo, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Carol Rymer Davis, of Denver, Colorado.

The pair were taking part in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race when contact was lost as they flew over the Adriatic on September 29.

Search crews looked for them in vain for nearly a week before determining their balloon had plunged toward the water at 50mph (80kph).