Vietnamese Maritime Forces Rescue Foreign Crew Member Suffering Severe Illness At Sea, Rushed To Hospital

Da Nang, Vietnam— Vietnamese maritime forces rescued a foreign crew member suffering severe illness at sea on October 31, 2026, pulling him off a cargo ship in rough waters and rushing him to hospital.

The distress call came at 4:15 a.m. from a Panama-flagged bulk carrier 80 nautical miles east of Da Nang. The ship was en route from Singapore to Hong Kong. Its captain reported a 42-year-old Filipino crewman had high fever, chest pain and difficulty breathing. He suspected a cardiac event. The ship had no doctor.

Da Nang Maritime Rescue Coordination Center dispatched a rescue vessel at first light. Seas were 2 meters. Wind was 25 knots. The rescue boat reached the cargo ship at 9:40 a.m. The crewman was on a stretcher on deck, conscious but pale. A medic on board gave oxygen.

The ship’s captain said the man had been sick for two days. They thought it was flu. Last night he collapsed. The crew had no way to test. They radioed Vietnam because it was the closest port with a hospital. Vietnam’s center agreed immediately.

The rescue vessel transferred the man in a basket between ships. The operation took 20 minutes. Waves made it dangerous. One rescuer fell but was caught by a harness. Once aboard the rescue boat, the medic monitored vitals and gave fluids. The boat headed back at full speed.

At Da Nang port, an ambulance waited. The man was taken to Da Nang General Hospital. Doctors said he had severe pneumonia with sepsis and needed intensive care. They said the rescue came in time. Another few hours could have been fatal. His family in Manila was notified.

The cargo ship continued its voyage after refueling water. Its captain thanked Vietnamese forces over radio. He said crew health at sea is often ignored until it is too late. He said many ships avoid calling for help because of cost. Vietnam’s rescue is free.

Vietnam’s maritime rescue service has handled 12 foreign crew rescues this year. Most were in the South China Sea shipping lane, one of the world’s busiest. The service runs 24 hours with limited boats. Officers said fuel is tight.

By evening, the Filipino crewman was stable in ICU. The rescue vessel was back at base, refueling for the next call.