Tourist lost at sea survives for three days in dinghy after drifting more than 180km

A tourist trying to get back to her husband’s yacht has spent three days drifting at sea after getting swept away in the Aegean Sea.

A tourist survived three days at sea in a dinghy as she drifted more than 160km.

The 45-year-old woman was blown off course while paddling back to her British husband’s chartered yacht.

She was swept across the Aegean Sea and finally ­rescued 80km north of Crete yesterday. She went missing on Friday off the Greek island of Folegandros after going ashore to visit a shop.

The woman, originally from New Zealand, was recovering in hospital last night. Her name had not been revealed

Six vessels and a navy helicopter had searched for her before a coastguard on patrol spotted the small rubber boat.

‘EXHAUSTED BY ORDEAL’

A spokesman said: “We found her alive, but she was completely exhausted by her ordeal.”

The woman was taken to ­Herakleion, on Crete, and treated for dehydration.

It is understood efforts were last night being made to reunite her with her husband.

She had been floating at sea for three days. Picture: Crete Live

Vassiliki Katsandoni, the head coastguard on Folegandros, said: “They anchored at the bay of Agkali and she quickly got in a dinghy to go to shore to ­purchase some supplies.

“She rang her partner to inform him that she was making her way back, but she never made it.”

The Kiwi is thought to be an experienced sailor who has taken part in several international competitions.

Chora on Folegandros island. Picture: istock

Last year, Brit Kay Longstaff, 46, survived 10 hours in the Adriatic Sea after plunging 23 metres from a cruise ship.

The air hostess, from Cheltenham, Gloucs, said she had sung to herself to survive the cold.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission