TOWNSVILLE, Australia (2 June 2008) — Rescued dive couple Allyson Dalton and Richard Neely are seeking counselling after their 19-hour ordeal at sea and are investigating whether to sue the owners of the boat whose crew desperately tried to find them. British scuba instructor Neely, 38, and his American partner Dalton, 40, who became instant celebrities when they were rescued in the Whitsunday Islands 10 days ago, spoke again about their miraculous tale of survival yesterday at a thank-you party in Townsville for search crews. Both appeared tired following a whirlwind media tour in which they sold exclusive rights to their story to a UK newspaper, Channel Nine and NBC TV in the US for a "five-figure sum". Ms Dalton said she was seeking counselling and had been asked to put on her wetsuit for a photo but found herself unable to do so. "We're meeting with a social worker," she said. "We want to dive again - I want to dive again, but I am not ready yet. "I'm reeling from this event, and I have not had time to really recover. "I have not slept more than five hours in a row. I still feel like I'm a little in shock." The couple said rumours they had taken a water bottle, shark repellent device and worn extra thick wet suits to minimise exposure were untrue. And they warned they were exploring legal options against the Whitsunday dive company, OzSail. Mr Neely said he had been made out to be "dodgy" and someone who told lies and falsified dive logs. They said the reason they spent a night lost at sea was simple - a female dinghy operator picked up two fellow divers nearby but forgot about them. Asked why they did not swim to the nearby reef and wave for help, Ms Dalton said it was impossible because of large waves, the wind and a strong current. EMQ chopper rescue officer Patrick Martin, who plucked the couple out of the water, said he felt they had been unfairly portrayed. "How long they were in water, the distance from land, everything was stacked up against them," he said. | 
