Chinese-run ship rescues 72-year-old Frenchman stranded in Caribbean

By Xie Chuanjiao (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2016-01-16 00:46

The French embassy commits the Dominican navy to pick up Bernard Couvet after Winning Joy arrived the port of Dominic.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A medical staff member aboard M.V.Winning Joy gives first aid to Bernard Couvet on Aug 19, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Gao Jiangqi, chief officer on the Winning Joy, put on life jacket before climbing down into the yacht from the 25 meters high cargo ship.

"The current was pretty strong, and we were all nervous for him. If he fell off into the water, he would never come back," Song said.

Couvet was exhausted. Gao Jiangqi helped him put on a life jacket and secured the safety belt and then he was pulled up by more than 20 crew members of the Winning Joy.

Li Fubin learned that Couvet is a retired teacher from France and he was sailing from Saint Martin to visit a friend in Martinique, both French territories in the Caribbean.

He didn't carry a paper chart and his electronic navigation system broke down when he passed the islands of Guadeloupe. His boat ran out of diesel and the wind was not favorable so he was drifting in the sea without help, and eventually even ran out of food and water.

Couvet was slightly hurt from the debris of a signal flare he fired.

Li said medical staff treated him before he was given a meal of plain porridge which was easy to digest as Couvet had not eaten for three days. The chef also prepared western food such as beef and pork steak for him, worrying that he would not get used to Chinese food at such a weak condition.

Speaking limited English, Couvet kept saying words of thanks during the three day trip.

The Chinese ship towed Couvet's yacht to the port of Dominic where Couvet was picked up by staff members from French embassy.

On August 20th, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center Fort-de-France sent a letter to Li and his crew to show their appreciation.

"Couvet paid tribute to every crewmember, saying he was extremely well-treated. Such act does confirm that solidarity is not a shallow word for all seafarer, in particular for those of M.V. Winning Joy," O.Delteil, duty officer of MRCC Fort-de-France, said in the letter.