Navy brings ashore seriously ill fisherman 

By Norman Palihawadane

The Navy, on Tuesday, brought ashore a fisherman who had fallen sick aboard a multi-day trawler. The fisherman was at sea, approximately 20 nautical miles (about 37km) southeast of Hambantota, as he was picked up by the Navy.

The mult-iday fishing trawler named ‘Warshan Putha 03’ (Reg. No. IMUL-A-0872 MTR) with five crew members on board had set sail from the Kalamatiya fisheries harbour on 30 July. However, as misfortune struck, one of the crew members fell seriously ill at sea, southeast of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo, located at the Navy Headquarters, about the developments, the Navy said.

 Responding to the urgent call for assistance, the Navy directed the Fast Attack Craft P 475, attached to the Southern Naval Command, to the particular sea area to retrieve the patient. Accordingly, naval personnel braved rough seas and managed to transfer the ailing fisherman to the Fast Attack Craft. The naval craft then proceeded towards the Hambantota harbour and the Navy also administered crucial first aid to the patient aboard. Upon arrival in Hambantota on Tuesday the patient was swiftly rushed to the District General Hospital, Hambantota for further treatment.