Algerian navy winches injured Turkish sailor off Tizi Ouzou

Algerian naval forces winched a seriously injured Turkish sailor from a cargo ship off Tizi Ouzou, the Ministry of National Defence announced.

The 20-year-old was hurt in a fall aboard the Turkish cargo ship HACI ALI SARI, the ministry said. On Tuesday at 16:48, the captain contacted the National Operations Centre for Surveillance and Sea Rescue and asked for an urgent medical evacuation.

The ship was 28 nautical miles north of Azeffoun, in Tizi Ouzou wilaya. The injury could not be treated with the medical equipment on board, and a return to port in a reasonable time was not possible.

A search and rescue helicopter was sent to the area without delay. It reached the ship and lifted the sailor by winch, a difficult task above a moving deck.

He was taken to Zéralda hospital, where first treatment was given. After medical checks, he was moved to Beni Messous hospital for more advanced care for his back injury.

Algérie 360 reported that the Algerian navy watches a large area of sea. Its work includes helping ships in difficulty, rescuing people from boats in distress and medical evacuations.

The western Mediterranean is a busy route, with cargo ships and container ships crossing it all the time. Work accidents on board are not rare, and far from the coast, only an aircraft can save the vital hours.