Story of Man Stranded on a Sailboat For More Than 3 Months Survives a Horrific Ordeal in the Pacific

Transcript

Event Date(s): 09/25/2002 | Event Location(s): Los Angeles, California;Pacific Ocean; | Description: Sixty-two-year-old Richard Van Pham tells story of being stranded on his sailboat for 3 months on the Pacific Ocean before being rescued by a US Navy vessel off the Central American coast. EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN MS: Sailboat moving along ocean water. EXT DAY MS: In interview US Navy Captain Terry Bragg says "Just an amazing story, "Robinson Crusoe," kind of a "Gilligan's Island" three-hour cruise, epic journey." EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN TRACKING: Ocean water from moving sailboat. EXT DAY MS: In interview Van Pham says "Don't know where I am, where to go." CU: Panning newspaper and Van Pham. STILL: Van Pham's sailboat. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham says "For months see nothing only water, sky and sea gull." EXT DAY SUPERIMPOSITION: Sun reflecting on ocean water and Van Pham's sailboat. STILLS: Van Pham's sailboat. EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN SUPERIMPOSITION: Sun reflecting on ocean water and sun in sky. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham says "There's no radio and flare, no water, no food supply. See no people. See nothing. So I think it's the end." EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN MS: Sun and ocean from moving sailboat. MS: Sea gulls in flight over water. STILL: Van Pham's sailboat. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham says "The turtle tastes very good. The beef, chicken, pork, whatever, second. Turtle number one." EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN (US Customs Service) HIGH WS: Aerial footage of Van Pham's sailboat. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham says "They see me. I happy." EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN (US Customs Service) HIGH WS: Aerial footage of Van Pham's sailboat. MS: USS McClusky Navy warship. STILLS: Rescuers in boat, and boat near Van Pham's sailboat. VO: Unidentified man says "When the McClusky showed up he actually was cooking a sea gull on his grill." STILL: Rescuers aboard Van Pham's sailboat. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham holds hat from the USS McClusky and says "Two hundred fifty sailor and the captain just like my family." STILL: Van Pham aboard the USS McClusky. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham says "The ship every day eat with them. Good meal. Three meals a day. Navy ship good meal, yeah." STILL: Van Pham aboard the USS McClusky. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham says "The sailor and the captain collect $1, $2, $5, enough money to buy the ticket and more." EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN (US Customs Service) WS: Van Pham's sailboat at sea. EXT DAY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA MS: NBC's Colleen Dominguez reports on camera. EXT DAY MS: Van Pham holds newspaper and says "I look at the boat, I miss it. My house." MS: Van Pham walks. EXT DAY PACIFIC OCEAN WS: Ocean with sunset behind clouds in sky. VO: Dominguez signs off from Los Angeles.