Search Continues for Missing Balloonists Richard Abruzzo & Carol Rymer Davis in the Adriatic Sea

Missing in the Adriatic Sea …

The search continues for Richard Abruzzo & Carol Rymer Davis, two missing American balloonists who went missing in the Adriatic Sea. Abrusso and Rymer were participating in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Racewhen they went missing this past Wednesday. Sadly, the search for the missing balloonists is like looking for the proverbial needle in a hay stack, in this case a hay field.

Wife  Nancy Abruzzo says the lost balloonist sent a last radio call, Richard Abruzzo and His Co-Pilot Carol Rymer Davis were preparing for emergency sea landing off the Italian coast.

Holding out hope for missing Richard Abruzzo & Carol Rymer Davis

Scuba divers joined in the search efforts Saturday for two American balloonists who went missing in the Adriatic Sea, but searchers said that hope of finding them alive is fading.

Veteran pilots Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis were participating in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race when contact was lost Wednesday morning. Race organizers said the two plunged toward the Adriatic Sea at 50 mph (80 kph) and likely didn’t survive.

The Italian Coast Guard said a group of eight divers equipped with underwater cameras had searched in the Adriatic on Saturday. But spokesman Lt. Massimo Maccheroni said “hopes of finding them alive after four days at sea are close to zero.”

Maccheroni did not say when the search would be called off, but said “we are close to the limit.”

Search continues … ABC News

Statement from Nancy Abruzzo, the wife of Richard Abruzzo, asking for folks to continue to pray.

From: Nancy Abruzzo
We have been able to determine many of the factors in Richard and Carol’s flight. The processing of all this information has raised new questions and the Italian Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) in Bari aggressively continues the search using all available resources in the ongoing effort to find Richard and Carol.

We recognize that we are looking for a needle in a haystack but we cannot rest until we find something, anything.

At this point we have not found any physical evidence from the balloon, the gondola, equipment or personal effects.

Coast Guard officials agree that there are more questions that need to be answered, and will not rest until we know more.

Continue to pray!