Basilan: A 17-year-old fishing boat crew member has reunited with his family in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, early Thursday, a day after he was rescued off Basilan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. 'Frank' safely arrived home in Pagadian City at about 3:47 a.m. through the joint efforts of the PCG and locally-based AMR Fishing Corp, the Coast Guard Station (CGS) - Zamboanga said.
According to Philippines News Agency, investigation showed that Frank departed Pagadian City on Monday aboard the MBCA Love Heart with its skipper and 13 other fishers bound for Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. Frank, however, accidentally fell overboard while asleep in a hammock at about 9 p.m. Tuesday.
The CGS-Zamboanga said Frank was rescued by the crew of F/V Lady Bianca near Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, at about 4:54 a.m. on Wednesday. He was later transferred to F/V Paglaum-2 at about 7:30 a.m. on the same day for transport to the AMR wharf in Barangay Cawit, this city, for further assistance.
F/V Lady Bianca and F/V Paglaum-2, owned and operated by AMR Fishing Corp., were on a fishing expedition when their crew sighted and rescued the minor drifting at sea. The CGS-Zamboanga extended its sincere appreciation to the crew of the two vessels for their swift response, which led to the successful rescue of Frank.
