​Philippine sailor saved by Vietnamese rescuers after heart attack at sea

The man’s vessel was on its way from Singapore to China when he suffered a heart attack near Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands

A Philippine sailor who suffered a heart attack in the East Vietnam Sea was brought to safety in the central city of Da Nang on Wednesday, thanks to a timely response from Vietnamese rescuers.

Guerrero Rosmeni Nedia, 48, is a crew member aboard the Greek oil tanker Leonidas en route from Singapore to China on Wednesday.

The Philippine national reportedly suffered from a heart attack about 45 nautical miles southwest of Triton Island, part of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea.

The vessel’s captain promptly broadcast a distress signal calling for medical assistance, which was picked up by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCC) of Vietnam.

MRCC immediately gave instructions for the Leonidas crew to perform first-aid on Nedia, while it dispatched a ship and doctors from Da Nang to provide medical service for the man.

Thanks to the timely response, Nedia survived the critical period and was brought safely to shore in Da Nang at 11:36 pm on Wednesday, where he was immediately admitted to a local hospital for further care.

MRCC has informed relevant diplomatic bodies to carry out the required paperwork for the Filipino to be repatriated once he regains full health.