Rescue (7A_提高_P52)

One night in November 1981, Cathy Maready set off in her small plane to fly from Lady Island just off the coast of South Carolina, USA, back to the mainland. She was in a hurry so she didn't tell the airport control where she was going.

Ten minutes later, the plane's engine stopped and she had to land in the water. The plane sank so quickly that she couldn't get her life jacket out of the plane and she did not have time to radio for help.Cathy was alone in the ocean, more than three kilometres from land. The water temperature was only fifteen degrees Celsius.Cathy started to swim to shore but it was hard because the current kept pulling her the wrong way. She took off her shoes and clothes so that it would be easier to swim.
She knew there were sharks in the water and she knew she was getting hypothermia. She began to imagine helicopters coming to rescue her and sea monsters coming to eat her. But she kept
going.Seven-and-a-half hours later,she reached the shore. She stumbled across the beach, cuttingher feet on oyster shells and rocks. Eventually, she was found and taken to hospital. Three days later she was well enough to go home.