PAF rescues ailing OFW on ship

MANILA, Philippines - An overseas Filipino worker needing medical attention on board a foreign vessel has been rescued by members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The rescue operation conducted by the 505th Search and Rescue Group affirmed PAF’s readiness to respond to emergencies.

Italian bulk carrier MV Marlene D’ Amato sent out distress calls on Dec. 8, requesting assistance for its ailing crewmember identified as Jaime Jerome. 

The vessel was sailing in the West Philippine Sea off the coast of Bolinao town in Pangasinan when its message was picked up by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) action center in the area.

The PCG relayed the message to the PAF, which dispatched the S-76A Sikorsky Air Ambulance Helicopter of the 505th Search and Rescue Group.

Despite bad weather, which made landing on the vessel’s deck difficult, helicopter pilots 1/Lts. Jessie Miller Jr. and Rolando Rengel Jr. were able to airlift the patient to the Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

“The aero-medical evacuation mission exemplified PAF’s commitment to put into action its thrust of developing a Jointly Engaged Transforming Force for greater peace and security,” the PAF said.