Teenage sailor 'alive and well'

A 16-year-old American girl who was feared lost at sea has been contacted by search teams and is alive and well, a family spokesman said today.

William Bennett said searchers aboard an Airbus A330 spotted Abby Sunderland's boat in an upright position and made contact with her via radio.

Speaking outside the family's Thousand Oaks home in southern California, Mr Bennett said the girl said she was inside the boat and doing fine with a space heater and at least two weeks' worth of food.

Mr Bennett said the mast had broken off the disabled boat.

He said a fishing vessel was en route to pick her up. The vessel is expected to reach her in about 40 hours.