Naval chopper rescues one from jaws of death

Kochi, Jul 17 (UNI) One of the 33 fishermen, who jumped off the listing 'Isabel III' vessel of Taiwan near an uninhabited Lakshadweep island, was literally pinched up from the jaws of death by a Naval Seaking helicopter yesterday.

The Navy launched the Seaking of the INAS 336 Squadron of the INS Garuda here to assist the Coast Guard, which had earlier in the day received a distress call about the Taiwanese vessel running aground a coral reef near the Suhaili island of Lakshadweep.

While 32 of the 33 crewmen on board the ship managed to swim to Suhaili island, about eight km from the point at which their ship ran aground, one man went adrift due to the rough seas, strong currents and winds.

The Naval Seaking, piloted by Cdr I A Manivannan and Cdr S Shukla, managed to locate and winch up the fisherman. The naval helicopter was equipped with two life rafts, divers and medical aid, a spokesman for the Southern Naval Command said here today.

Later, the naval helicopter airlifted all the 33 crew members from Suhaili to Kavaratti, before returning to Kochi.

The naval spokesman said the Taiwanese vessel was presently resting on the coral reef and listing to one side. There was no trace of oil spill in the area. The ship was carrying about 190 tonnes of fuel.

UNI ARC VV PAG RL VV1732