Fisherman survives 96 hours adrift at sea by grabbing black foam sheet

On Monday afternoon, the Vietnam People's Navy's 129th Naval Brigade said naval vessel 743 was still making its way to shore from waters near the Thang Long oil field, off southern Vietnam, with fisherman Truong Van Trung, who had just been rescued, aboard.

Trung, 46, was saved at around 6:00 pm on August 16 by naval vessel 743 after drifting at sea for four days, the 129th Naval Brigade said the same day.

At the time of his rescue, Trung was in weak condition after enduring hunger and cold at sea, officials said. 

He remained aboard vessel 743 as it headed toward the mainland, where he was expected to be handed over to authorities for further care at about 8:30 am on Tuesday.

Trung told rescuers that he had been a crew member aboard a fishing boat from An Giang. 

On August 12, he went to the rear of the boat to make a phone call when a wave suddenly swept him overboard.

As he fell into the sea, Trung managed to grab a piece of black foam from the boat and cling to it. 

By the time he realized what had happened, he had been carried far from the fishing boat by the waves.

For the next four days, he survived by holding on to the foam without food or drinking water.

At around 6:00 pm on Sunday, crew members aboard vessel 743 spotted Trung drifting at sea and threw him a lifebuoy before pulling him aboard.

The vessel's commander said Trung was still tightly clutching the black foam when he was rescued. 

He had minor scratches, sunburn, and a skin reaction after spending several days at sea.

Trung remained weak, so naval personnel gave him food and water, provided medical care and arranged a place for him to rest during the vessel's journey back to shore.