Local fishermen were the first to jump to the rescue of drowning crewmembers

Chennai:

The local fishermen were the first to rescue the crewmembers of Pratibha Cauvery when they tried to take a lifeboat to reach ashore after their ship ran aground 3.7 nautical miles south of Chennai Port near Adyar Creek on Wednesday.

Eyewitness sources said the sea was rough and it was pitch dark. Even the fire service department officials were mere bystanders but the local fishermen risked their lives and jumped into the sea.

The sea was choppy and the fishermen managed to rescue about four to five crewmembers. They brought them to the beach and 108 ambulance rushed them to the nearby hospital, said an eyewitness who refused to be quoted.

He said that had it not been for the fishermen, it would be difficult for some of the crewmembers to swim ashore. He said there were still some crewmembers stranded in the ship. An Indian Navy officer also confirmed that it local fishermen rescued some of the crewmembers. Interestingly, an argument also broke out between fishermen and Coastguard who alleged that the response from the Coastguard was bit delayed