Thai, Cambodian sailors rescued by Vietnamese fishermen 2 days after shipwreck

The castaways, six men and two women, were spotted around noon on June 7 by a Vietnamese fishing vessel captained by Dang Van Phil, 39, operating approximately 70 nautical miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Hon Khoai Island in southern Vietnam.

Waving frantically for help, the group caught the attention of Phil, who quickly notified his boat’s owner and the Khanh Hoi Border Guard Station. Following instructions from authorities, he steered his vessel to bring the survivors aboard.

On June 9, the group was handed over to Vietnamese border guards at Khanh Hoi, where they received food, medical care and support. Their condition is now stable, both physically and mentally, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hai.

Survivors told officials they had been part of a nine-member crew aboard a supply ship that sank unexpectedly. While eight managed to construct a makeshift raft and survive, one crew member remains missing.