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U.S. Navy, Bahraini Coast Guard Pull 3 Fishermen to Safety

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040202-07

Release Date: 2/2/2004 11:21:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Tim Walsh, Naval Support Activity Bahrain Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Sailors from Naval Security Force in Bahrain pulled three fishermen to safety after their boat capsized near the Mina Salman pier.

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Cristian Zamfir spotted the capsized boat at 6:05 p.m. Jan. 31, as he and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Fernando Ojascastro returned to the Harbor Patrol Unit (HPU) at the end of their watch.

"It was dark, so we approached the boat with search lights on and saw three men hanging on to the sides," Zamfir explained. He then radioed back for help, saying, "We have men in the water. A boat is capsized in the channel."

According to Zamfir, the fishermen did not speak English well, yet expressed that one man could not swim. None of the men were wearing life preservers. Zamfir threw a life ring to the man who could not swim and was struggling to stay afloat.

Moments later, a second boat, which was also headed back to HPU, arrived to provide assistance.

"It was cold that night. They were just out there scared. They were freezing," said Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Shereef Collins of the second patrol boat, adding his first thought was getting the men to safety.

The second boat pulled the man who could not swim aboard and took him to a nearby pier. The two other men said they could wait in the water but soon changed their minds, and Zamfir and Ojascastro pulled them aboard their patrol boat.

Within minutes, a Bahraini Coast Guard vessel had pulled alongside the patrol boat, and the two remaining fishermen transferred over. The coast guard also towed the capsized fishing boat out of the middle of the channel.

We are all friends, and we are here to help each other, said Engineman 2nd Class (SW) Lance Page, the coxswain of the second boat.

Since the rescue, Ojascastro has already noticed a change.

"Usually, the fishermen are kind of timid to wave and say 'hi,' but it looks like there has been some impact, some changes with the help we did here," Ojascastro observed.