Officers and men of the search and rescue team of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), at the weekend, saved the life of two mariners who were involved in a manoverboard accident at about five nautical miles South-East of Lagos fairway Buoy while providing chandling services to a vessel at anchorage.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affair of  NIMASA, Hajia Tumaka Lamidi and made available to The Tide in Lagos, stated that a distressed   radio signals were picked up by officers on watch at the radio room of the search and rescue coordination centre (RMRCC), by 1700 hours Saturday evening and the vessel location was traced from the Regional Maritime Awareness Centre (RMAC), which is also located at the RMRCC.

She further explained that the team comprising officers from the Maritime guard command, search and rescue officers and professional divers were dispatched immediately aboard platforms provided under the public private partnership arrangement with Global West Maritime Services.

‘‘Professional divers on the team immediately set out on the rescue operations which lasted for about two hours and ended with the Nimasa rescue team saving the lives of the distressed sailors,” she said. According to her, the victims were evacuated onto the Nimasa vessel at about 7.p.m and proceeded to the search and rescue clinic located at Kirikiri for medical attention, adding that after administering medical treatment, the victims who were visibly traumatised, the agency’s medical team placed them under observation overnight.

Narrating their ordeal, Douglas Ibokeyi and Henry Boofine, disclosed that the high waves were responsible for the accident.

According to them, they were onboard their 6 meter long banana boat supplying lubricating oil to MITRISTARKUWAIT when a huge wave knocked them off their boat.