The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Five sailors dead after Coast Guard rescue boat capsizes

By Park Hyung-ki

Published : Oct. 18, 2012 - 20:35

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Five crew members of a sunken Malaysian cargo vessel died Thursday after a Korea Coast Guard boat, which had rescued them, capsized in seas off Jeju Island.

The Coast Guard dispatched its boat to save 15 crewmen of the 5,000-ton vessel from sinking off the southern island.

The rescue boat carrying them and four coast guard officers was heading back to its base when it capsized due to strong tides.

The Coast Guard immediately dispatched a helicopter and a patrol ship but the accident claimed five lives. Two died in a local hospital.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)