<p>[To</a> infinity and beyond: A sparkling survival story - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/10/rescue.at.sea/index.html]To”>To infinity and beyond: A sparkling survival story - CNN.com)
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To infinity and beyond: A sparkling survival story</p>
<pre><code>* Story Highlights
- Father says son’s autism, love of water may have helped save his life
- Father, son used Disney lines as call and response as rip current tore them apart
- Pair was separated after four hours and survived by themselves for eight hours more
- Dad believed son had died, was elated to see him rescued, touch his hand
</code></pre>
<p>By Mallory Simon
CNN</p>
<p>(CNN) – Walter Marino shouted to his 12-year-old son, Christopher, as he drifted farther away in the Atlantic Ocean.</p>
<p>“To infinity,” the father yelled.</p>
<p>“And beyond,” Christopher replied.</p>
<p>After a rip current swept the boy and his father out to sea Saturday, darkness fell, and the sound of rescue helicopters and boats grew faint until they were nonexistent.</p>
<p>Despite the danger, Christopher, who has autism, was enjoying himself, his father said. The boy lacks a fear of death because of his autism and finds comfort in the water, Marino told CNN.</p>
<p>Marino finds comfort in his son. Their unique circumstances helped keep them alive for more than 12 hours in the open ocean, Marino said.</p>