5 DIXCOVE FISHERMEN RESCUED ON HIGH SEAS (BACK PAGE)

Five fishermen from Dixcove in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region were rescued when their canoe capsized on the high seas about 38 nautical miles off the coast of Sekondi/Takoradi.
They were rescued by a supply ship, the MV Blue River, under the command of Captain Simon Gideka, which was returning from the Jubilee Oil Field at 10 a.m. last Monday.
Those rescued were identified as Samuel Sekinnie, 26; Francis Arthur, 22; John Kussie, 35; Benjamin Arthur, 32, and John Badu, 22.
They had hung perilously onto the capsized canoe for hours before they were rescued, according to the crew of the supply ship.
Their outboard motor, fuel, food, nets and other fishing equipment were, however, lost in the storm.
At the time of the rescue, they were said to be virtually naked and trembling.
After the rescue, the fishermen were taken to the Takoradi Hospital for medical attention before they were released to their families.
According to the victims, they were five on board the canoe from Dixcove and were on their normal fishing expedition when the weather changed suddenly and the tide became so high that they lost control of their canoe.
The leader of the fishermen, Kussie, said they clinged to the boat, with the hope of getting some help or being washed ashore. Fortunately for them, the supply boat came to their rescue.
“We saw the boat from far and one of us managed to stand on the almost submerged canoe to wave at its crew for help,” he said.
The leader said initially they had thought that they could turn the canoe but it was very difficult and they were left with no option but to hold on to it.
“We had to take off our clothes so that we could become less heavy to avoid been carried away by the strong current, but we lost everything,” Kussie said.
He thanked the crew of the MV Blue River for coming to their rescue, as well as officials of NADMO and the Takoradi Hospital for the care.
The Deputy Western Regional Minister, Ms Betty Bosomtwe-Sam, urged fishermen across the country to take enough precaution to ensure their safety at sea, especially with the onset of the rainy season.