Hit by a Flying Rope: Crew Member in His 60s Missing at Sea near Sinan

Fell Overboard During Net Hauling Operations Near Galdo, Sinan County
Coast Guard Deploys Patrol Boats, Helicopter, and Private Vessels for Overnight Search

A crew member in his 60s went missing after falling into the sea while working near Galdo in Sinan County. The Coast Guard deployed patrol boats, a helicopter, and even private fishing vessels for an overnight search, but as of July 17, the individual has not yet been found.

According to the Mokpo Coast Guard on July 17, they received a report at 6:37 p.m. on July 16 that crew member A, in his 60s, had fallen into the water from a 15-ton coastal net fishing vessel operating 5 nautical miles southwest of Galdo, Sinan County.

The incident is presumed to have occurred during net hauling operations, when the crew was pulling up the nets.

The captain reportedly stated to investigators, "While pulling the rope with a machine from the bow, the rope suddenly snapped to the left and struck A, causing him to fall into the sea from the shock."

Exterior view of Mokpo Coast Guard Headquarters

There were six people on board the vessel at the time of the accident. Crew members launched an immediate search after the incident but ultimately could not locate A. It is still unknown whether A was wearing a life jacket.

Upon receiving the report, the Coast Guard dispatched six vessels, including patrol boats and coastal rescue boats, one helicopter from the Mokpo aviation unit, and ten nearby private fishing vessels for an intensive search operation at the scene.

The search continued even after sunset. The Coast Guard also considered the possibility that the missing individual may have been swept away by currents, conducting a nighttime search focusing on the area around the accident site. As of this report, there have been no updates on the discovery of the missing crew member.

A representative of the Coast Guard stated, "We are mobilizing all available resources to continue the search," adding, "We also intend to investigate the circumstances of the accident and whether safety procedures were followed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.