The six crew members of the fishing vessel Avô Melro, which ran aground early on Monday near Arrifana beach, Aljezur, have been rescued by the crew of a Portuguese Navy EH-101 Merlin helicopter, according to Carvalho Pinto, the captain of the Port of Lagos.
Pinto reported that the six crew members were all safe and sound at the airbase at Montijo where the aircraft landed by 9:05 a.m..
The Health Center Unit and the INEM provided support to the fishermen at the airbase and the men did not have to be referred to a hospital.
"The weather was poor and it was not possible to land them in the vicinity so they were taken to Montijo. The information we have is that the men have suffered no health problems,” said Pinto.
The vessel "is stranded in a hard-to-access location with high seas" and with a strong wind making access perilous.
The authorities are to assess whether there is any way the fishing boat can be salvaged from the site but Pinto said it’s a very dangerous operation and the vessel is badly damaged.
Naval Commander Paulo Vicente received an alert at 05:59 a.m. that the Avô Melro was stranded on the rocks next to Arrifana beach and was at risk of sinking.
Pinto agreed that there was a risk that the vessel would go under, listing as it was in a heavy swell. “We do not know the damage that the vessel has suffered but it is being pushed against the rocks and there is always the risk of sinking."
Vincente agreed that "the weather conditions are very adverse and access to the site is very difficult, both by sea and by land," adding that they are considering every option to save the vessel.
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