US navy men in joint war games rescue four Filipino fishermen

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday October 20, 2006

Manila- US Navy soldiers participating in joint war games in the Philippines rescued four Filipino fishermen adrift for four days off the country's west coast, a military statement said Friday. The American troops were conducting routine training flights off Palawan province, 600 kilometres south-west of Manila, on Thursday when they spotted the victims clinging to a wreckage in the middle of the sea.

The soldiers immediately contacted their superiors at a nearby US Navy vessel, who dispatched smaller boats to rescue the four fishermen who were pale and close to death.

The victims were brought to a hospital in the southern port city of Zamboanga for treatment.

Initial investigation showed the four victims' motorized boat was destroyed on Monday by huge waves and strong winds. They survived by clinging to the wreckage and drinking sea water.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency