The San Diego family rescued from their sailboat about 1,000 miles west of Cabo San Lucas, because their 1-year-old daughter was seriously ill, is expected to arrive in port Wednesday.
After rescue swimmers with the California Air National Guard parachuted to the family’s disabled 36-foot boat, where 1-year-old Lyra was given medication for a fever and rash, the family was put aboard the guided missile frigate USS Vandergrift on Sunday.
Eric and Charlotte Kaufman, Lyra and 3-year-old Cora were about two weeks into what they hoped to be a circumnavigation when the sailboat lost its steering and Lyra became seriously ill.
The rescue has sparked a debate over whether such young children should be taken on life-threatening adventures. Some critics have called for the family to cover the costs of the rescue, something the U.S. Coast Guard does not typically do.
After the Vandergrift passes Point Loma Wednesday, it will make its first port call at Naval Air Station North Island to load ordnance.
Lyra has been reported in stable condition since being brought aboard the Vandergrift.
According to the Navy, the Kaufmans asked to get off the ship in Coronado and do not want to talk to the news media at the time. They plan to first take Lyra to see their family physician, the Navy said.
– City News Service