Filipino seafarers on board an oil tanker helped in rescuing a group of people who got stranded at the Mediterranean Sea near the border of Tunisia and Italy. 

The team was led by Sonny Sison, the chief engineer and head of the vessel’s technical and engine department. He is from Lingayen, Pangasinan. The oil tanker had 19 Filipino crew members and four Turkish crew members.

Sison said they received the distress call as they were en route to Tunisia. 

The people they rescued were reportedly adrift at sea for approximately four days after their boat’s engine conked out. 

“Noong naubusan ng fuel ang bangka nila, doon na sila tumirik. Nag-shutdown ang bangka nila [at] lulutang-lutang na [lang] sila,” Sison said.

During this time, they had run out of fuel and food.

“Ang pakay namin [ay] tatawag din [kami] ng Coast Guard na sasagip sa kanila kaso noong nakalapit kami sa kanila, nag-unahan sila sa mga binibigay namin na pagkain hanggang muntik tumaob ang bangka nila,” Sison said.

Sison’s crew turned the people they rescued over to the Coast Guard officials in Italy.

The Filipino crew were commended for their courage and heroism.