Mystery of 'dumped' man found drifting on raft of oildrums
Marcus Oscarsson in Stockholm and Joanna Bale
Times Online
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A man found floating on a raft 30 miles (48 km) out to sea between Norway and Denmark insisted yesterday that he had been thrown overboard from a British ship.
The crew on the Norwegian gas tanker Berge Odin thought that they were mistaken when they spotted the lone man sitting on a makeshift raft of oil drums and planks in international waters. They had initially mistaken him for a large piece of debris, but when they approached him he politely explained in English what had happened. “I have been dumped from another boat,” he said. The Norwegian crew lowered a rescue boat, helped him aboard their vessel and gave him a hot bath, dry clothing and food before alerting the Norwegian Sea Rescue Service.
At first the crew believed him to be in good health, but it soon became obvious that the hours on the raft had taken their toll. “The man’s condition is worse than first assumed. ” Per Erik Bjö rklund, an official with Bergesen, the shipping company, said.
He emphasised that the man was lucky to be found, adding: “The raft was small — four small oil drums and a wood pallet tied together. Temperatures were at freezing point and the raft would stand only minor waves.”
The man was found 30 miles south of Randøysund, Norway.
Apr 22, 2006
Marcus Oscarsson in Stockholm and Joanna Bale
Times Online
_________
A man found floating on a raft 30 miles (48 km) out to sea between Norway and Denmark insisted yesterday that he had been thrown overboard from a British ship.
The crew on the Norwegian gas tanker Berge Odin thought that they were mistaken when they spotted the lone man sitting on a makeshift raft of oil drums and planks in international waters. They had initially mistaken him for a large piece of debris, but when they approached him he politely explained in English what had happened. “I have been dumped from another boat,” he said. The Norwegian crew lowered a rescue boat, helped him aboard their vessel and gave him a hot bath, dry clothing and food before alerting the Norwegian Sea Rescue Service.
At first the crew believed him to be in good health, but it soon became obvious that the hours on the raft had taken their toll. “The man’s condition is worse than first assumed. ” Per Erik Bjö rklund, an official with Bergesen, the shipping company, said.
He emphasised that the man was lucky to be found, adding: “The raft was small — four small oil drums and a wood pallet tied together. Temperatures were at freezing point and the raft would stand only minor waves.”
The man was found 30 miles south of Randøysund, Norway.
Apr 22, 2006
