In a quick and timely reaction, units of the Coast Guard Station of Tumaco saved 13 people, who had an emergency minutes after they set sail from the Playas de Bocagrande to the urban area of Tumaco.
The event was reported when the control tower and maritime traffic authority of Tumaco received a call from the community in which they reported the shipwreck of a boat manned by 20 passengers in the sector of Bocagrande. Immediately, two Rapid Reaction Units of the Coast Guard Station of Tumaco and a River Support Boat of the Navy Battalion No.40 begun the search and rescue operation.
Once there, marines rescued 13 people alive and placed them aboard the Coast Guard Units. In the same way, it was established that the remaining seven people swam to the beach, where they were found in good condition by troops.
The 13 peoples rescued were taken to the dock of the coast Guard Station in Tumaco, where they received medical assistance by health professionals of the Military Health Center of the Colombian Navy, who confirmed that two people suffered a slight concussion and a person had hypotension, however, he was stabilized in the medical center.
“We were coming out the river mouth and the boat turned over due to a very large wave. We thank God, the National Navy and the Coast Guard. Their timely reaction, thank God, saved our lives”, said Carlos Alberto Castillo, one of the individuals rescued.
For his part, the Commander of the Coast Guard Station of Tumaco, Corvette Captain Sergio Rueda said: “the timely call of the community and the use of the life jacket allowed our timely reaction to find the individuals alive when we arrived. We reiterate our commitment for the security at sea”.
Source: press-Navy of Colombia
