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Sheriff's Deputies Rescue Stranded Swedish Family Of 7

CARSON (CBSLA.com) — Sheriff's deputies came to the physical, financial and emotional rescue of a Swedish family of seven left stranded by a family emergency.

The grateful family is on its way home to Stockholm.

The two parents -- Caslav the father and Alexander the mother -- and five female children (aged 2, 14 and 17, and 10-year-old twins)  -- were seen walking up Sepulveda Boulevard in Torrance on Friday at 4:30 in the morning, said Nicole Nishida of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Nishida said the  family told deputies they were in Southern California for a graduation when they were notified of a family emergency back in Sweden.

The Trandafilovic family had to suddenly change their airline tickets, and the sudden surcharges drained their life savings and left them without money for food or a hotel.

The Trandafilovics were left penniless and hungry. They also spoke little English. Fortunately, one of the reserve sheriff's deputies -- Sgt. Britta Kjellstand -- is fluent in Swedish and was able to translate.

Carson station deputies and personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Reserve Forces Bureau chipped in donations for the family to provide them with food, hotel accommodations and transportation to LAX. The family was dropped off at LAX Sunday for a midday flight home, Nishida said.

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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