AIR EVACUATION. Naval Forces West personnel assist cargo vessel crewman Santos Tambo Jr., who was air evacuated from the Sulu on April 8, after suffering from a third-degree burn in the face. (Photo courtesy of Western Command PAO)
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- A 49-year old cargo vessel crew, who suffered third-degree burns on his face due to an air-conditioning unit that blew up, was rescued Sunday by personnel of the Naval Forces West (Navforwest) in the Sulu Sea.
Captain Cherryl Tindog, spokesperson and chief of the Public Affairs Office (PAO) of the Western Command (Wescom), in a statement Monday, said an emergency medical air evacuation was activated to get Santos Tambo Jr. from cargo vessel MV Evangelia that was traversing the Sulu Sea 35 nautical miles off Puerto Princesa.
The statement said that around 4 p.m., the Coast Guard District Station (CGDS) Palawan informed Navforwest about the incident after it was reported by Captain Ernesto Abuan of the cargo vessel.
“MV Evangelia’s Capt. Abuan requested for an immediate medical evacuation and treatment for Mr. Tambo, who suffered burns in the face caused by the explosion of one of their air-conditioning units,” said the statement.
An AW109 helicopter by the Naval Air Unit West (NAU-W) was dispatched with Wescom medical personnel to get Tambo from the cargo vessel.
From the Sulu Sea, he was taken around 7:30 p.m. to the Palawan Multipurpose Cooperative Hospital for emergency burns treatment. (PNA)
