American rescued after boat capsizes off Australian coast

<p>American sailor Levi Verwoest was rescued from his capsized catamaran on Thursday after spending 12 hours overnight drifting at sea off the northeast Australian coast.</p><p><img src="https://imedia-peoplesdaily.pdnews.cn/up/cms/www/201811/23193922goyb.jpg" title="VCG125213162_00002.jpg" alt="VCG125213162_00002.jpg"/></p><p><span style="color: rgb(127, 127, 127);">Video source: VCG</span></p><p>Verwoest, who has been sailing the Australian coast for three years, said his vessel started to take on water Wednesday evening.</p><p>On Thursday morning, the Hawaiian activated his Personal Locator Beacon or EPIRB and a rescue helicopter flew to his location in less than 15 minutes.</p><p>Verwoest, who lost all his belongings on the catamaran, was calm but told local media he wasn&#39;t afraid but irritated by the ordeal.</p><p>RACQ CQ Rescue has asked for help on their Facebook page in getting Verwoest to Sydney and to the American consulate so he can get a new passport.</p>