EU Naval Force - Somalia
Operation ATALANTA

On 15 September the EU NAVFOR warship ESP CANARIAS received a call from the Spanish Navy Ops Centre (COVAM) about an injured sailor onboard the Spanish fishing vessel INTERTUNA I.

The vessel was located 300 miles off the Somali coast. A fisherman had been seriously wounded by a shark bite and required immediate medical assistance. EU NAVFOR FHQ directed the EU NAVFOR warship CANARIAS to render immediate assistance to the fishing vessel.

ESPS CANARIAS proceeded at full speed to the area, conducted a medical evaluation and moved the injured fisherman onboard the warship for further medical treatment.

The EU NAVFOR frigate headed for Port Victoria in the Seychelles allowing the injured man to be speedily evacuated by her helicopter. The fisherman is now in a Seychellois hospital.