At approximately 6:30 a.m., Captain Tran Dinh Hai and his crew spotted Nguyen Thanh Tung and his daughter clinging to their kayak about 6 meters from Mat Island (formerly part of Cua Lo town). The ship immediately approached, throwing lifebuoys for the two to hold onto. Within minutes, 3 or 4 crew members pulled them aboard.

Both Tung and his daughter are now in stable condition. Authorities are currently dispatching a vessel to the waters off Thach Kim commune, Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province, to retrieve them.

Rescuers help the young girl from the kayak onto the ship on the morning of 31/7. Photo: Duc Long

Rescuers help the young girl from the kayak onto the ship on the morning of 31/7. Photo: Duc Long

The incident began around 8:15 p.m. on 30/7, when 35-year-old Tung and his daughter, residents of Truong Vinh ward, were visiting Xuan Thanh beach resort in Tien Dien commune (formerly Nghi Xuan district), Ha Tinh province. Wearing life jackets, they paddled their kayak, over 3 meters long and nearly 1.5 meters wide, out to sea. They were swept away by large waves and lost contact with the shore.

The Lach Ken Border Guard Station (Ha Tinh Border Guard Command, under the Ha Tinh Provincial Military Command) mobilized 12 officers and soldiers, working with local authorities and fishermen throughout the night in the search effort. Authorities determined the pair had drifted past Mat Island, over 30 km from where they were last seen. They were adrift for approximately 13 hours before being rescued.

Duc Hung