On the afternoon of 30/7, 35-year-old Nguyen Thanh Tung and his 6-year-old daughter, Nguyen Tran Phuong Anh, along with several relatives from Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province, went to Xuan Thanh beach resort in Xuan Thanh commune, Ha Tinh province.

At 5:30 p.m., with the sea calm, Tung and Phuong Anh went for a swim. Phuong Anh wore a life jacket, while Tung carried a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), tying one leg to it, intending to paddle near the shore. He had previously used the one-meter-wide, three-meter-long composite SUP many times in the waters of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

For this trip, he brought a whistle, flashlight, magnetic rope, and other items in a small cloth bag. He also brought a spare inflatable float, 40 cm wide and 80 cm long, tied to the SUP.

Nguyen Thanh Tung recounts the moment he and his daughter were swept out to sea at Xuan Thanh beach, on the morning of 1/8. Photo: Duc Hung

Before he could start paddling, a sudden wave about one meter high crashed onto the shore, pulling Phuong Anh out with the receding water. Tung immediately paddled after her and reached her in seconds, pulling her onto the SUP.

When the waves subsided, he realized they were hundreds of meters from shore. His cries for help went unheard. The paddle and rescue equipment in his bag were gone, Phuong Anh's life jacket was lost, and only the spare float tied to the SUP remained.

Determined to survive, Tung kept the SUP tethered to his leg and used the rope on the float to secure Phuong Anh. He then used the elastic from his shorts to tie himself to his daughter, ensuring they wouldn't be separated.

As night fell, heavy rain and strong waves repeatedly overturned the SUP, throwing them into the sea. Each time, Tung struggled to get Phuong Anh back onto the board, sometimes having her cling to his neck as he supported her. This happened many times throughout the night.

Exhausted, Tung briefly fell asleep on the SUP, only to be awakened by another wave.

Having served two years in the military, Tung was a strong swimmer. Without the paddle, he used his hands and feet to propel the SUP. He also jumped into the water at times to push the board towards a distant light, which he hoped was a lighthouse, estimating it to be tens of kilometers away.

For the first 4-5 hours, Tung focused solely on his daughter's safety. Later, during a lull in the waves, he reassured her, "Don't be afraid. I'm sorry. I'll get you home. Just wait a little longer. Be strong, don't cry. You are my strength." Though cold and tired, Phuong Anh replied, "Dad, keep going! I want to go back to mom." Every 5 minutes, Tung checked on her to ensure she was okay.

After being repeatedly thrown into the sea, they became dehydrated. When it rained, Tung used the float to collect rainwater for them to drink.

Rescuers bring Phuong Anh from the SUP to the cargo ship on the morning of 31/7. Photo: Duc Long

Throughout the night, Tung never gave up hope. As dawn approached on 31/7, he saw a ship but couldn't reach it. He continued paddling towards the distant light. Hearing another ship's engine, he turned the SUP and paddled towards the sound, waving his arms to signal for help when the cargo ship VINASINE 555 came into view.

The crew of the VINASINE 555, en route from Ninh Binh to Quang Ngai, spotted them and brought them aboard. Rescuers estimated they were near Mat island, off Cua Lo ward, over 30 km from Xuan Thanh beach where they were swept away approximately 13 hours earlier.

Phuong Anh cries when she sees her mother. Photo: Duc Long

Tung suffered minor injuries, but Phuong Anh was unharmed. After receiving medical attention and food, they began to recover. "The moment we were safe, I was overjoyed. Thankfully, Phuong Anh wasn't hurt," Tung said.

From the ship, Tung called his wife. Upon reaching shore at noon on 31/7, he was overwhelmed with emotion. Phuong Anh ran into her mother's arms, sobbing. Tung expressed his gratitude to the crew of the VINASINE 555 and the search and rescue teams. "We owe our lives to them," he said.

Xuan Thanh beach, a popular tourist destination in Ha Tinh province, has a five-kilometer stretch of white sand and clear water. However, there have been previous incidents of swimmers getting into trouble during rough seas.

According to the Ha Tinh meteorological agency, the weather on 30/7 in the northern plains and coastal areas, including Xuan Thanh commune, was sunny with no rain during the day, and light southwesterly winds. There were scattered showers and thunderstorms at sea, with visibility over 10 km and waves 1.5-2 m high.

Duc Hung