Cyprus police rescue Canadian couple

Pair had to abandon their sinking yacht off the island's southwestern coast after colliding with another ship and taking on water

Nicosia, Cyprus — Associated Press, Thursday, Jun. 25, 2009 09:42AM EDT

.Cyprus police say they have rescued a Canadian couple who had to abandon their sinking yacht off the island's southwestern coast.

Police spokeswoman Lefki Solomontos says the Canadians alerted Cypriot authorities early today that their eight-metre craft had begun taking on water after colliding with another ship 200 kilometres southwest of the coastal resort of Limassol.

The Canadians, in their late 50s, were picked up by a passing cargo ship. A Cypriot police helicopter later airlifted them to Paphos airport on Cyprus' southwestern coast. Solomontos said the couple are in good health and have checked into a local hotel.

The yacht had set sail from Port Said, Egypt, and was bound for Turkey.