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New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Sachet successfully evacuated a critically injured Iranian fisherman, who was injured in both his eyes, by long distance medical assistance in the Arabian Sea near Kochi, Kerala. An official gave this information on Tuesday.
The fishermen also suffered wounds to their right ears due to the explosion while transferring fuel to a generator on the fishing vessel Al-Owais, the official said in a statement.
The ship with five crew, with engine failure, was 1,500 km west of Kochi when the coast guard rescued the injured Irani, the statement said.
It said Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Mumbai received information from Iran’s MRCC Chabahar regarding the medical emergency and activated the international safety net to alert nearby vessels and initiate coordinated assistance.
The ICG ship and MT STI Grace, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker en route from Kuwait to Moroni, upon return from overseas deployment to East African countries, were directed to provide immediate assistance.
The tanker crew, after meeting with Al-Owais, performed tele-medical first aid and stabilization under the guidance of ICG medical personnel.
Furthermore, MT STI Grace met ICG Ship Sachet for patient transfer and further medical management. The injured fisherman is currently receiving medical treatment on board ICG ship Sachet, which is headed towards Goa for further procedures.
The challenging rescue underlines the ICG’s commitment to maritime security and humanitarian assistance beyond national borders, reaffirming its role as a reliable and trustworthy maritime search and rescue agency in the Indian Ocean region, the Defense Ministry statement said.
Last week, ICG launched two Advanced Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), ICG Ship Ajit and ICGS Aparajit, at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
These ships are the seventh and eighth in the series of eight indigenously built FPVs being built by GSL for the ICG, an important step in enhancing the country’s coastal surveillance and response capabilities, an official statement said.
Entirely designed and built by GSL, the FPVs reflect the growing strength of India’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
–IANS
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