Local News

Cruise ship returns after saving refugees

Posted: 06/11/12 at 6:55 am EDT      Last Updated: 06/11/12 at 11:29 am EDT

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (WSVN) -- A cruise ship has returned to South Florida after saving a group of refugees at sea.

Passengers of the Allure of the Seas watched as a lifeboat rescued five Cuban refugees floating on a raft during their cruise.

A 7News viewer sent in video of the rescue as the group was taken aboard. "I just hoped they were OK, coz we had heard they were in the water for three days, you know, that was pretty rough to do that and wasn't sure what was going to happen to them," said Cory Graham, who witnessed the rescue. "I was kinda hoping that if they were brave enough to make it out to sea from Cuba that they'd have a chance to stay here, but who knows?"

Once aboard, the group was given food and water.

The U.S. Coast Guard picked the group up and have not said whether they will be sent back to Cuba.

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