Vietnam fisherman rescued after 24 hours adrift on foam board

The fisherman, 53-year-old Tran Ngoc Thach from Xuan Dai Ward in Dak Lak Province, has returned home safely, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Thach was found at around 4:20 pm on Tuesday by the crew of the cargo vessel VTT 169, which brought him on board and alerted authorities at a checkpoint in Gia Lai Province.

Xuan Dai Ward was previously part of old Phu Yen Province before Phu Yen was merged into Dak Lak on July 1.

Similarly, the checkpoint was previously part of erstwhile Binh Dinh Province before Binh Dinh was amalgamated into Gia Lai.

Thach had been missing since Monday afternoon, when the fishing boat he was working on sank near the Sa Huynh area in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam.

Two other crew members were rescued by a passing fishing vessel shortly after the incident.

Thach survived by clinging to a piece of floating foam after being swept away from his boat, according to his wife.

Footage released by the cargo ship’s crew also shows him holding onto the foam before being pulled aboard.

His family issued a call for help on social media after he was reported missing.

He was later transferred to border guards at the Tam Quan Nam checkpoint, where officers said he sustained minor injuries and is recovering.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.