A Navy helicopter was called in after efforts by the Marine Police to rescue the men from their lifeboat were unsuccessful as the lifeboat tossed dangerously close to rocks off koh Hei (Coral Island), just five kilometres from Phuket. (See story here.)
After several successful airlifts to safety, the crew – comprising at least one Burmese, one Indonesian and several Cambodians – were taken on board a launch then transferred to the Marine Police boat the Ploypailin.
All 10 crewmen are alive and well. They have been given immediate first aid and will receive further medical attention at Vachira Hospital after they have returned to Phuket at Ao Makham, Marine Police reported.