INDIAN MARINER RESCUED AFTER FIVE HOURS IN NIGERIAN WATERS

Emmanuel Omamus

An Indian Mariner that fell off aboard his vessel has been rescued after spending five hours in Nigerian coastal water. The Mariner was rescued by the marine unit of the Nigerian Police while patrolling Nigerian coastal waters.

Executive Secretary, Lagos State Security Trust Fund(LSSTF), Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey made the revelation Thursday while speaking at the 7th Annual Town Hall meeting on security in Lagos.

He did not mention the names of the mariner involved but said the incident took place two weeks ago.

“Two weeks ago, an Indian Mariner fell off his cargo ship on its way out of the Lagos port. His ship mates did not notice that he had fallen overboard, and so the ship sailed on, leaving him flailing in the water. He was lucky to manage to grab and hold onto for dear life, a drift wood, but his prospects of rescue were dim. He was in the water for five hours by which time he was exhausted and had just about resigned himself to death.

“As luck would have it, a routine Marine Police patrol spotted him and he was rescued”, he said.