PCG: 4 Chinese fishermen found on drifting life raft off Palawan

Four Chinese fishermen, two of them dead, were found on a drifting life raft off Rizal, Palawan on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday.

In a Facebook post, the PCG said one of the fatalities drowned and the other succumbed to his head injury. 

Based on the statements of the two survivors -- Mr. Fu Wanke and Mr. Lu Yunian -- they departed from Hainan, China on July 9, 2021 for a fishing venture.

While fishing, the Chinese fishermen encountered bad weather and the sea condition forced them to launch their life raft and abandon their ship.

One of their colleagues, Fu Wan Sheng, tried to swim toward the life raft, but failed, and got separated from the group.

Meanwhile, the survivors carried with them the remains of their two other colleagues -- Mr. Li Bang Lai, and Mr. Qin Tong.

Li Bang Lai suffered a serious head injury due to falling debris from their fishing vessel. The head injury caused him to lose consciousness, and he eventually died.

Qin Tong, the other fatality, drowned.

“With assistance from local fisherman Mr. Mario Mabuhay who towed the life raft ashore, Mr. Fu Wanke and Mr. Lu Yunian arrived safely in the shores of Barangay Canipaan, with the remains of their fellow fishermen, Mr. Li Bang Lai and Mr. Qin Tong,” the PCG said.

Moreover, the PCG said that its sub-station in Rio Tuba and the Philippine Marines continue to monitor the condition of the survivors while an investigation into the incident is ongoing. —LBG, GMA News