WA: Indonesian sailor critical after Navy rescue

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2006
WA: Indonesian sailor critical after Navy rescue

EDS: Changes nationality of sailor on updated information from AMSA.



PERTH, Aug 14 AAP - An Indonesian man is in a critical condition in Perth after the
Australian navy picked up the sick crewman from a Japanese fishing boat in the Southern
Ocean.

The man was in a critical, but stable, condition in the intensive care department of
Royal Perth Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery today, a hospital spokeswoman
said.

He arrived at the hospital early today after a high seas rescue by HMAS Anzac, 350km
south-west of Cape Leeuwin, yesterday.

The navy were responding to a cry for help from the longline tuna fishing boat, Azuma Maru.

The Australian sailors transferred the man from his fishing vessel, into a small boat,
and rescued him in heavy seas.

The man was cared for by a naval medical officer, before being delivered to the hospital
for emergency surgery.

AAP lk/srp/de

KEYWORD: SAILOR

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