Two fishermen were hauled onboard a Coast Guard helicopter after their brand-new 15-ton boat Jónína Brynja from Bolungarvík ran aground below cliffs northwest of Straumsnes near Aðalvík in the western Hornstrandir region on Sunday evening.
From inside a Coast Guard helicopter. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
The men transmitted an emergency call between 7 and 8 pm, which was responded by the Coast Guard helicopter and rescue vessels from Flateyri, Ísafjörður, Bolungarvík and Súgandafjörður, ruv.is reports.
The conditions were difficult at the site of the accident, heavy snowfall and wind speed of 13-15 meters per second. Connection couldn’t be established with the men until an hour after they transmitted the emergency call.
The men were able to reach land on the own accord. The steersman of the helicopter was lowered down to them and then they were hauled onboard the aircraft and taken to Ísafjörður for crisis counseling and medical checkup, and were subsequently discharged.
The boat, which was only a few weeks old, was smashed into pieces on the rocky beach. Jakob Valgeir Flosason, the owner of the fishing company that operates the vessel, said this was the 15th time it had been taken out to sea.
Jakob described the fishermen as experienced and could not explain what had caused the accident, which is now under investigation by the police in Ísafjörður. Jakob said he is thankful for everyone who participated in the rescue operation.
ESA
