Coast Guard evacuates injured sailor of foreign ship on high seas

The Indian Coast Guard on Saturday evacuated an injured Indian sailor from a foreign registered cargo ship on the high seas 70 nautical miles off Kanyakumari, the marine security agency said.

In a statement issued here, Coast Guard said at early hours on March 14 a medical emergency call was received by Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre here from MV Saga Frontier sailing from Singapore to Antwerp.

According to the statement, an Indian sailor M.B. Abdul Kadeer on the foreign cargo ship sustained head injury due to a serious fall on the ship's deck.

On receipt of the emergency call, Coast Guard ship Abhiraj reached the merchant vessel sailing from Tuticorin carrying a medical team. The medical team rendered the first aid to the injured sailor and evacuated him.

On reaching the Tuticorin harbour, the injured sailor was handed over to the local shipping agent and was rushed to a private hospital for treatment.

The Coast Guard said the sailor is responding to the treatment and recovering well.