An Alaska man who found a soccer ball and volleyball that floated across the Pacific Ocean after being swept away in the March 2011 tsunami disaster said Monday he was delighted to know that the volleyball's owner was alive, as well, after earlier hearing the soccer ball's owner was safe.
David Baxter, a 51-year-old engineer, and his Japanese wife, Yumi, 44, said by telephone that they were happy to learn that the volleyball's owner, Shiori Sato, 19, of Iwate Prefecture, was also safe.
Iwate was one of the coastal prefectures hit hardest by the massive quake-triggered tsunami.