"EFFORTS by Hollywood actor Sean Penn to aid New Orleans victims stranded by Hurricane Katrina foundered badly overnight, when the boat he was piloting to launch a rescue attempt sprang a leak.<br /><br />Penn had planned to rescue children waylaid by Katrina's flood waters, but apparently forgot to plug a hole in the bottom of the vessel, which began taking water within seconds of its launch.<br /><br />The actor, known for his political activism, was seen wearing what appeared to be a white flak jacket and frantically bailing water out of the sinking vessel with a red plastic cup.<br /><br />When the boat's motor failed to start, those aboard were forced to use paddles to propel themselves down the flooded New Orleans street.<br /><br />Asked what he had hoped to achieve in the waterlogged city, the actor replied: "Whatever I can do to help."<br /><br />With the boat loaded with members of Penn's entourage, including a personal photographer, one bystander taunted the actor: "How are you going to get any people in that thing?"
