After receiving an SOS message at 1.57pm on Saturday from the container ship Cosco Prince Rupert, registered in Hong Kong SAR of China, the Zone II Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (Da Nang MRCC) sent out rescue ship SAR 412 to help a sick crew member.  At that time, the container ship was at latitude 13°51’N and longitude 110°3’E, about 190 nautical miles southeast of Da Nang. 

Around 6 hours later, the rescue ship reached the Cosco Prince Rupert at latitude 15°26’N and longitude 109°26’E.  The patient was transferred to the rescue ship for initial first aid, and then brought safely back to a hospital in Da Nang for further treatment.

Mr Thach receiving first aid from a doctor on the rescue ship

At 1.10pm on Sunday, the SAR 412 was next sent to help 53-year-old crew member Truong Van Thach of fishing vessel BD 95519 from Binh Dinh Province.  Mr Thach was suffering from a painful headache, dizziness, vomiting, and convulsions.  At 6.00pm the same day, the SAR 412 arrived at the scene and the sick fisherman was transferred to the rescue ship for first aid.  By this time, Mr Thach was critical and in a deep coma having suffered a stroke.  He was brought back to the mainland for further treatment.  

Also on Sunday, the Da Nang MRCC sent out another rescue ship, SAR 274, to help 39-year-old Vo Hoang on fishing boat QNg 98168TS from Quang Ngai Province.  Mr Hoang had broken his arm and many teeth in an accident with the boat’s belt hoists.  He was brought to the mainland for emergency treatment.