In the course of control and security operations on the Pacific coast of Nariño, the Colombian Navy -through a Rapid Reaction Unit of the Coast Guard Station of Tumaco- rescued three Ecuadorians, who were adrift since last Friday, February 12, when they set sail from Ecuador to go fishing.
When the crew of the boat saw the troops, raised their hands asking for help. Immediately, the unit provided assistance and checked their health.
"Thanks to the Coastguards who found us! We were fishing 50 miles away from Esmeraldas and when the Pirates came in, intercepted us, took away our engines and everything they could take away. Thank God we reached the coast of Colombia”, said the men identified as Felipe Droued, 26 years; Henry Ángulo, 34; and Luis Vázquez, 32.
According to the rescued, this theft at sea took place in Ecuadorian waters. When they were adrift, the three men built a rudimentary boat, in which they sailed to Colombian waters, where they were found by the Colombian Navy.
The three men and the boat were taken to the pier of the Coast Guard Station of Tumaco, where they were received by medical personnel of the Colombian Navy. They had signs of dehydration and first-degree burns due to the prolonged exposure to the sun. In the same way, in coordination with the Secretary of Health of Tumaco, symptoms associated with COVID-19 were ruled out.
Once stabilized, the naval institution conducted the judicial process before the department of Migration Colombia and the Ecuadorian Consulate to begin the humanitarian mission that allowed the safe return of these three men to their country aboard the Coast Guard units.
Source: press-Navy of Colombia
