BY KADIJATU BANGURA | DAILY SCOPE REPORTER
Five local fishermen were pulled from the sea and saved on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, after their boat sank off the Freetown coast during rough weather.
The rescue was carried out by the Chinese fishing vessel YuanYu708, which responded to distress signals while conducting routine operations in the area.
According to maritime reports, Captain Wang Pingchao spotted the distressed boat battling heavy rain and high waves. The crew immediately halted fishing and moved to the location at full speed. By the time they arrived, the Sierra Leonean boat had capsized, leaving the five men in the water without proper safety equipment.
The crew of YuanYu708 launched emergency procedures and recovered all five fishermen. On board, the survivors were given dry clothes, food, water, and first aid.
Following the incident, company management deployed a second vessel, Chang Rong-3, with medical personnel to provide further assistance.
The matter was reported to Sierra Leone’s maritime and fisheries authorities. Officials from the Sierra Leone Navy and members of the media later boarded YuanYu708 and praised the crew for their swift and professional response.
Authorities described the operation as a timely humanitarian intervention that averted a potential tragedy at sea.
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