Promptly recused fisherman in distress on Spratly Islands

On the evening of September 19, 2023, while squid fishing in the Spratly Islands area (Northeast 207 nautical miles from Nha Trang), the fishing vessel named QNa 94464 TS had 01 crew (Full name: Hoang The Bao; Year of birth: 1989; Birthplace: Binh Hai commune, Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province) falling from the fishing framework. His head was strongly hit by the ship’s hull which led to severe headaches, swelling on the top of his head and vomiting. He is now in mentally panicky and weak health condition. Mr Pham Phu Nhuan (Captain and ship owner; Year of birth: 1981; Address: Binh Minh commune, Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province) requires medical assistance and the vessel to take the injured crew to the shore for emergency treatment immediately.

Once receiving the distress information, Vietnam MRCC connected the vessel to Vietnam National Institute of Maritime Medicine for medical advice. At this time, the victim was having dangerous symptoms; his health condition was getting worse that required prompt emergency treatment. Vietnam MRCC had carried out rescue procedures: Guiding the fishing vessel to alter his course to shore, at the same time, under the command of the National Committee for Search and Rescue of Vietnam (VINASARCOM), Ministry of Transport, Vietnam Maritime Administration, Vietnam MRCC appointed the specialized search and rescue vessel SAR 273 with medical team on duty in Nha Trang to depart for rescue at 12:18 on September 19, 2023.

At 16:48 the same day, the working team approached the fishing vessel QNa 94464 TS and carried out the victim-receiving process and gave him urgent first aid. All through the days and nights overcoming harsh weather conditions, SAR 273 safely brought the injured crew Hoang The Bao of the fishing vessel QNa 94464 TS to the port of Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Center IV at 21:06 on the same day. The crew had been transferred to Khanh Hoa General Hospital for prompt treatment.

This is the third continuous case in the past 5 days in which the rescue team in Nhatrang MRCC has deployed prompt rescue procedures for fishermen who are sick or injured while fishing in the Spratly Islands area and its vicinity. Previously, SAR 273 had directly rescued 01 crew with a stroke on the fishing vessel QNa 90767 TS on September 15, 2023; 01 crew with acute appendicitis on September 17, 2023.

Below are several pictures of this incident.

The rescue team of SAR 273 approached the fishing vessel của tàu SAR 273

The victim was tranferred to SAR 273 for ugent medical treament

Rescue Coordination Department, Nhatrang MRCC