Boy rescued after drifting for five hours on the sea

A 10-year-old boy was rescued off the coast of south China’s island province of Hainan, after drifting five hours on a paddleboard on typhoon-looming seas. The rescue took place on Friday some 2.3 nautical miles from the shore as Wutip, the first typhoon of this year, approached Hainan Island.

At 17:30 that day, on-duty crew of a Guangzhou Salvage Bureau ship anchored in preparation for the storm spotted an individual paddling on a stand-up paddleboard in open waters. Given the severe weather conditions, the crew found the situation highly unusual.

Using binoculars to further monitor the individual, they saw the person signaling for help and and faintly heard cries for help. The captain immediately issued an emergency rescue order, with the crew venturing out into the tumultuous waters in rescue boats. They brought aboard the boy at 18:08.