Victoria
Six Fijian health workers rescued after 36 hours at sea
Six Fijian health workers have survived 36 hours stranded at sea by clinging to wooden planks before being rescued.
Six Fijian health workers have survived a harrowing 36-hour ordeal in open waters after their vessel encountered trouble, leaving them to cling to wooden planks before they were successfully rescued.
The group was located and brought back to safety in what search coordinators have described as an incredibly fortunate outcome, according to reporting by regional wire services. The successful rescue operation was set in motion largely due to the actions of a former classmate of one of the survivors, who realised the group was overdue and raised the alarm.
Details surrounding the voyage remain limited, and authorities have not yet confirmed the exact location where the vessel encountered trouble or the precise nature of the failure. It is understood that the six personnel were travelling as part of their health duties when their boat foundered, forcing them to rely on floating wooden debris to stay afloat for more than a day and a half.
Search and rescue teams faced a challenging task covering a vast expanse of ocean. The connection between the former classmate and the survivor proved to be the critical link in initiating the search and narrowing down the potential drift zone, eventually allowing rescue vessels to spot the survivors.
Medical assessments are currently underway to determine the physical condition of the six health workers after their prolonged exposure to the elements. Local authorities have not yet released the identities of the survivors or provided details on the vessel involved.
Observers will be watching to see if the incident prompts a review of safety protocols and communication equipment for regional health teams travelling between islands.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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