Two fishermen earn letters of appreciation for saving two lives

Nakagusuku Coast Guard Headquarters sent letters of appreciation to Tomohiko Kinjo, 30, a fisherman, and Yoshitaka Tamashiro, 31, an apprentice fisherman, Thursday, for saving lives of two persons whose boat had capsized off the shore of Kin Town.

Both men smiled when they received the letters, and said they were happy that they had been able to save people’s lives.

Just after midday Aug. 8, a 42-year-old man from Ginowan and his 12-year-old nephew, were fishing in a small foldable boat off the shore of Igei, Kin Town. When they raised the anchor to go back to the shore, a wave threw the boat upside down.

Kinjo and Tamaki were in their boat, when they received a radio message from the Coast Guard Headquarters via the Fishermen’s Association about the capsized boat. They arrived at the scene guided by a smoke torch that had been dropped from a coast guard helicopter to mark the location, and pulled the man and his nephew who had been clinging to their capsized boat to safety.

17:04 29 Mar , 2024