Navy sailor evacuated from Ayungin after 10-hour China blockade

MANILA, Philippines – A Philippine Navy sailor suffering from a medical emergency at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal was flown to Puerto Princesa City on Friday, Oct. 9, after Chinese Coast Guard vessels obstructed his evacuation for more than 10 hours.

Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told reporters in a message that the sailor was transferred from the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Cabra to the Navy’s BRP Valentin Diaz (PS-177), which docked at Naval Detachment Oyster Bay in Palawan.

READ: Chinese Coast Guard water cannons PCG during medical evacuation mission

The sailor was subsequently airlifted aboard a Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter to Puerto Princesa City, arriving at 9:42 a.m.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela said Chinese vessels repeatedly blocked BRP Cabra from approaching the grounded BRP Sierra Madre despite being informed that the mission involved a medical emergency.

“They never cared about the medical emergency. They never cared about our sick personnel on board BRP Sierra Madre,” Tarriela said in a press briefing on Friday.

He said China Coast Guard vessel 5306 activated its water cannon and approached within about 366 meters of BRP Cabra as the Philippine vessel attempted to reach Ayungin Shoal on Thursday.

The water cannon did not directly hit BRP Cabra, and no damage or injuries were reported among PCG personnel.

Tarriela said the Chinese Coast Guard also deployed a smaller boat to interfere with the PCG’s efforts to retrieve the sailor.

The patient was transferred to a PCG boat at around 3:15 p.m. and was aboard BRP Cabra by 5 p.m., where a medical officer checked his vital signs and administered intravenous fluids.

Tarriela said the evacuation could have been completed within one to two hours had Chinese vessels not blocked the Philippine ship.

He said the sailor had complained of abdominal pain but deferred questions about his diagnosis and current medical condition to the AFP.

The incident followed the suspension of a Philippine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre on Sept. 24 after Chinese vessels blocked and challenged Philippine ships approaching Ayungin Shoal. /jpv

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