TWO Pakistani Navy personnel were injured when their Japan-bound ship was battered by huge waves off Ilocos Sur last Friday, the Armed Forces reported yesterday.
The AFP Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) named the injured personnel as Lieutenant Commander Mudassir Aziz Tamimi, chief executive officer of the Pakistani Navy ship named Shamsheer; and Chief Petty Officer Zia Ul-Islam.
Nolcom spokesman Lt. Col. Elmar Salvador the Pakistani ship was enroute to Korea last Friday when it encountered rough sea conditions, causing the ship to “shake intensely.”
The ship’s final destination was Japan, where it is set to take part in a Fleet Review of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Salvador said Tamimi sustained leg and arm fractures while Ul-Islam sustained head injuries and lost consciousness.
Salvador said the Naval Forces Northern Luzon, after receiving a distressed radio message from the Pakistani ship, opened the port of Sta Ana, Cagayan anchorage to the foreign ship.
Salvador said the Pakistani ship arrived at the anchorage area later Friday.
He said the injured Pakistani Navy personnel were given first aid and later brought to the Grupo Medico De Dios Hospital in Cagayan. He said the two are now recovering.
Salvador said the Pakistani ship proceeded on its voyage after dropping off the two injured personnel.
Salvador said Nolcom commander Lt. Gen Ernesto Torres Jr “commended the swift response of the Navy troops.”
“He (Torres) encouraged them to sustain their readiness in responding to emergencies in their area of operations,” said Salvador.
