Canadian tourist with respiratory failure rescued off Vietnamese coast

A Canadian tourist, Jonel Vanier, has been rescued off the Vietnamese coast after Vietnam’s marine rescue service received information that he was in critical condition due to respiratory failure.

The Canadian tourist being given medical care by Vietnam’s marine rescue service.
The Canadian tourist being given medical care by Vietnam’s marine rescue service.

The 43-year-old tourist was on the Ovation of The Seas, a cruise ship flying the Bahamas flag en route from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore.

After receiving the request for help, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre immediately instructed the ship’s crew members to give first aid to the tourist and asked the ship captain to steer the ship towards Vung Tau at maximum speed.

The centre then dispatched rescue ship coded SAR 413 to Vung Tau in order to help with the rescue effort.

By 7h30, the victim had been transported to a wharf at Vung Tau and handed over to onshore healthcare workers. The centre also informed the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam to coordinate in dealing with the incident.