Navy chopper plucks 8 men from sea after fishing boat sinks
The 1st Naval Area Command deployed two aircraft to rescue eight fishermen after their boat sank off Prachuap Khiri Khan province on Sunday.
The rescue mission was launched after the owner of a fishing boat contacted the Navy to say the boat, with eight crewmen aboard, was only minutes away from sinking.
A Navy reconnaissance aircraft arrived at the scene off Bang Saphan port at 11.20am to find the fishing boat had sunk, leaving its eight crew in the water.
An anti-submarine warfare helicopter was deployed with two divers, who plucked the fishermen from the sea and ferried them to U-Tapao Airport.
All eight crewmen were sent to Somdech Phra Nanagchao Sirikit Hospital. Five were able to return home the same day, but three were kept to recover from fatigue.
Vice Admiral Kowit Inprom, First Naval Area commander, said his troops stood ready to rescue victims from the sea at any time.
