Five fishermen from a crew of six from the fishing vessel ‘Devon-5’ in Tangalle who had consumed the contents of a bottle they found floating in the sea, assuming it was liquor, have died.
A crew of six fishermen from Tangalle Fisheries Harbour, who were on a multi-day fishing voyage, fell critically ill after consuming a liquid from a bottle they found floating in the sea.
Unfortunately, five fishermen lost their lives.
The Navy said the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources sent a request to the Maritime
Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo at Navy Headquarters on June 29 seeking help. The Navy promptly responded to the request, with MRCC Colombo coordinating efforts to alert ships in the vicinity.
“This swift action was aimed to provide relief to the fishermen who have been poisoned by a liquid in the sea, approximately 365 nautical miles away. Additionally, a Navy doctor offered medical advice to the fishermen remotely through communication equipment,” a Navy communique said.
The Navy had deployed Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu, along with a medical team, to the designated sea area to provide medical assistance to the fishermen and bring them safely ashore.
A merchant ship sailing under the flag of Singapore named ‘MV KOTA CAMIL’ had taken aboard two fishermen who were alive from the ill-fated vessel yesterday. But one of the two also died while under treatment.
The vessel ‘MV KOTA CAMIL’ had been alerted by the Sri Lanka Navy.
