US Navy ship saves five Filipino fishermen in South China Sea

October 10, 2018

A United States Navy ship rescued on Monday five Filipino fishermen who have been drifting in South China Sea  on an improved boat for five days.

A US Embassy press statement on Wednesday said the five fishermen were saved by a passing US Navy ship Wally Schirra.

“The crew of the USNS Wally Schirra rescued five Filipino fishermen off and adrift and distressed boat in the South China Sea, Oct. 8,” the US Embassy said.

The US Navy ship's watch officer and lookout spotted five individuals on the boat waving their hands and flag.

According to the rescued fishermen, their fishing boat sank last Wednesday after its hull was punctured by the bill of an estimated six-foot long blue marlin.

“They took with them some rice, clothes, batteries and eight-watt bulb, an AM-receive only radio and a handheld Global Positioning System . They had no water,” said the Wally Schirra's civilian mariner Leon Hadley, quoting the rescued fishermen. DMS