CHENNAI: A Coast Guard helicopter evacuated a Sri Lankan fisherman who developed a heart condition after his boat drifted to Indian waters due to engine failure on Friday. He was airlifted to Chennai and has been admitted to hospital.
On April 1, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Indian Coast Guard in Chennai received a distress alert from MRCC Colombo about Sri Lankan Fishing Vessel (SLFV) ‘Kalpeni’ that was suspected to be adrift at sea due to a snag in the engine.The boat sailed with a six-member crew from Cod Bay fishing harbour on March 22 but lost communication on March 28.
The Indian Coast Guard sighted the boat on April 2 around 40 nm off Puducherry. A technical crew tried to repair it but could not due to lack of spare parts and informed Sri Lankan authorities to arrange for a tow to the base harbour.
As the boat was under watch and had drifted to 60nm off Chennai, one crew member PM Sumit Lalitha, 44, developed shortness of breath and was suspected to have a life threatening heart condition on Friday.
ICGS Rani Abbakka reached the boat and evacuated the patient in a few hours. The fisherman was given basic medical treatment and airlifted him on an advanced light helicopter (ALH) to the Coast Guard air station in Chennai and was hospitalised.
On April 1, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Indian Coast Guard in Chennai received a distress alert from MRCC Colombo about Sri Lankan Fishing Vessel (SLFV) ‘Kalpeni’ that was suspected to be adrift at sea due to a snag in the engine.The boat sailed with a six-member crew from Cod Bay fishing harbour on March 22 but lost communication on March 28.
The Indian Coast Guard sighted the boat on April 2 around 40 nm off Puducherry. A technical crew tried to repair it but could not due to lack of spare parts and informed Sri Lankan authorities to arrange for a tow to the base harbour.
As the boat was under watch and had drifted to 60nm off Chennai, one crew member PM Sumit Lalitha, 44, developed shortness of breath and was suspected to have a life threatening heart condition on Friday.
ICGS Rani Abbakka reached the boat and evacuated the patient in a few hours. The fisherman was given basic medical treatment and airlifted him on an advanced light helicopter (ALH) to the Coast Guard air station in Chennai and was hospitalised.