TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A passenger suffered cardiac arrest aboard a recreational fishing boat near Pengjia Islet (彭佳嶼), a remote island north of Taiwan, at around 4 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 19), triggering an emergency helicopter rescue. The crew of the Yulin No. 6 issued a distress call, and the Coast Guard Administration (海巡署) requested assistance from the National Air Service Corps (空勤總隊), Taiwan's aerial rescue agency. The agency dispatched a rescue helicopter to the scene.
The helicopter arrived as the sun began to set, with rescuers facing diminishing visibility and rough sea conditions near the remote island. Hovering above the choppy waters, the rescue team braved strong winds and a violently swaying boat to land on the narrow deck. The rescuers maneuvered the stretcher into the cabin while avoiding numerous obstacles that could have entangled the steel cables.
The National Air Service Corps (空勤總隊) successfully hoisted the patient aboard the helicopter at 5:25 p.m. and rushed to a hospital for treatment. Team member Hsu Tzu-chi explained that rescuers coordinated with the boat's captain to maintain a heading of 33 degrees and a speed of 5 knots (9.3 km/h) to stabilize the operation. Sergeant Major Fan Chen-sheng noted the challenging sea conditions, saying he nearly fell into the water but avoided disaster by signaling for an ascent. ◼