On Tuesday 6 December 2016 Spanish sailors from EU NAVFOR warship, ESPS Relampago, rescued two men at sea after they become stranded on two upturned skiffs twenty four miles north of the island of Socotra in the Gulf of Aden.
The men had been sighted at first light by the aircrew of a Japanese Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Shortly afterwards Operation Atalanta’s Spanish Maritime Patrol Aircraft arrived at the scene and kept a close eye on the situation until ESPS Relampago, which was the closest ship, could reach them to provide lifesaving assistance.
Once the Spanish warship arrived at the scene, the two men were winched on board by the ship’s helicopter crew and provided with water, food and medical care.
The two men said that they had been sailing with other passengers in a dhow from Al Mukalla in Yemen to Socotra. Overnight the dhow had started to take on water and capsized. The men managed to save themselves by climbing on board two skiffs from the dhow. It is understood that other passengers from the dhow were rescued by local maritime forces.
After being checked over by the ship’s doctor, the men will be taken to Socotra later today and ESPS Relampago will continue with her counter-piracy patrols.