TWO French sailors drowned and a Filipino was in a stable condition after they fell into the sea during a regular exercise in Yantian port in Shenzhen on Friday.
The sailors, including seven French and 19 Filipinos, were rehearsing setting down a lifeboat from the French registered Cmacgm Christophe Columb, which was berthed at the Yantian International Container Port.
The three were in the lifeboat when it fell into the sea from the deck, which is about 20 meters above the sea, after the rope suspending the lifeboat broke, a preliminary investigation report by the Shenzhen Municipal Maritime Safety Administration said.
The three sailors were rescued 30 minutes after the accident. One French sailor was pronounced dead at the scene and the other French sailor died on the way to Yantian People s Hospital.
The Filipino, identified as Guantero, 38, was transferred to ICU with pneumonedema and rib fractures. He was in stable condition, doctors said.
An investigation is under way. (Han Ximin, Wan Dong)
