Iraqi ship crew rescues Indian sailor in Indian Ocean

BAGHDAD — The crew of the Iraqi vessel Al-Hadbaa rescued an Indian sailor who was close to drowning in the Indian Ocean after spotting his distress signals, Iraq’s General Company for Maritime Transport said Saturday.

Captain Ali Hamid wrote on his personal account that “at exactly 2 p.m. on Friday, near the Indian coast, a drowning person was spotted near the ship Al-Hadbaa. The ship’s rescue team immediately moved toward him and saved him while the vessel was sailing in the Indian Ocean, coinciding with Iraq’s National Day.”

In a statement, the company said, “In a heroic act embodying the values of humanity and bravery, the crew of the Iraqi ship Al-Hadbaa, affiliated with the Ministry of Transport and General Company for Maritime Transport, managed to rescue an Indian sailor who was on the verge of drowning in the Indian Ocean.”

The rescue took place “after the crew detected a distress call from a person struggling against the waves. They quickly acted in accordance with maritime safety procedures and succeeded in bringing him aboard the ship,” the statement said.

The crew administered first aid, and the sailor “expressed deep gratitude to the Iraqi sailors who saved his life in a critical moment.”

Ahmed Jassim al-Asadi, director general of the General Company for Maritime Transport, praised the crew’s actions, saying their bravery “reflects the genuine spirit of the Iraqi people and their noble values in helping others regardless of nationality.” He added that Iraqi vessels “are not only means of transport and trade, but also messengers of humanity and solidarity on the high seas.”