Vietnamese fisherman Truong Van Trung survived four days adrift in the ocean by clinging to a piece of black styrofoam after falling overboard from his vessel.
Military Ship No. 743 spotted the 46-year-old father of two on the evening of August 16 while operating 80 nautical miles off the coast. Sailors rescued him in darkness, high winds, and heavy seas after he had spent 96 hours in the water.
According to Tuoi Tre News, a major news outlet based in Vietnam, Trung was working on a fishing vessel on August 12 when he stepped onto the deck to answer a mobile phone call during the day. A sudden wave knocked him into the ocean, but he managed to grab a piece of black styrofoam as he fell.
Trung comes from An Giang province, a region in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam where agriculture and fishing are central to the local economy.
Surviving four days at sea
Without access to food or fresh water, Trung floated in freezing ocean waters for four days. He periodically swallowed small amounts of salt water in an effort to quench his severe thirst.
Throughout his ordeal, Trung watched the sun rise and set while keeping his focus on survival. He repeatedly told himself that he had to stay alive for the sake of his two children, who had already lost their mother.
On the evening of August 16, crew members on Military Ship No. 743 spotted the exhausted fisherman drifting 80 nautical miles from shore. Despite nighttime darkness, strong winds, and high waves, the crew navigated their ship close to Trung and pulled him on board.
Trung was so severely exhausted when rescued that he could not remember the name of the fishing vessel he had fallen from. Even in his weakened state, he was still clutching the piece of styrofoam that had kept him afloat.
Recovery and homecoming
Naval crew members provided immediate first aid, fresh water, and food before allowing Trung to rest. By the morning of Monday, August 17, medical personnel reported that his physical condition had stabilized.
On Tuesday, August 18, the military ship brought Trung to the port of Naval Squadron No. 129 in Ho Chi Minh City, the primary commercial hub and port city in southern Vietnam. His relatives were waiting at the naval base to meet him.
Upon arriving at the port, Trung thanked his rescuers for saving his life. He stated that thoughts of his family gave him the mental strength required to endure four days in open water without giving up.
The Vietnamese report noted a similar ocean survival case involving Kai Sato, a 39-year-old American sailor who survived for over a month alone at sea drifting on a yacht while eating stored oatmeal, fish, and squid.
