Three men who were swept out to sea by the powerful waves of Typhoon Kalmaegi along Vietnam’s central coast have been miraculously rescued after drifting for over 40 hours in turbulent waters. The incident, which took place on November 6 off Ly Son Island, has become a story of survival and hope.
Pham Duy Quang, one of the three individuals carried away by the storm, was first spotted and pulled to safety on Saturday morning by the Vietnamese cargo ship Hai Nam 39 as it sailed through the area. Le Van Luong, director of the Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority, shared details about the rescue. According to Luong, Captain Hoang Phu Xuyen discovered Quang floating with a life jacket approximately 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) from Ly Son.
“From the bridge, the captain saw someone adrift and immediately ordered the crew to slow down, turn back, and prepare rescue gear,” Luong said. However, the rough seas made the rescue extremely challenging. “It wasn’t easy to get close because the ship still had engine momentum and the waves were rough,” Captain Xuyen recalled. After several attempts, the crew threw a lifebuoy and managed to haul the exhausted man on board.
“He was conscious but very weak,” Xuyen said, adding that the crew provided him with food and water and later notified authorities to arrange his transfer to shore. By noon, a Ly Son high-speed boat had brought Quang safely back to land. “Everyone on the ship was overjoyed. Saving one life means saving an entire family,” Captain Xuyen said.
Two other men were also rescued.
Le Van Sanh (L) is rescued while drifting in the sea of Quang Ngai, Nov. 8, 2025. Photo by An Vinh Express crew
Local authorities reported that Quang and another man, 37-year-old Le Van Sanh, had rowed out in a small coracle to rescue 44-year-old Duong Quang Cuong of Tay An Vinh Village, who reportedly jumped into the sea after a family dispute. All three were swept away by strong waves.
Both Sanh and Cuong were rescued by passenger ship An Vinh Express on Saturday afternoon. At around 4:10 p.m., Hau, the captain of the An Vinh Express, reported that his ship had rescued Sanh, who was found in stable health and good spirits. Sanh was located about two nautical miles (nearly 4 km) north of where Quang was rescued, thanks to the location information provided by Quang.
The ship then found Cuong at 5:30 p.m.
At home, Quang’s wife, 45-year-old Tran Thi Dong, broke down in tears when she received the call confirming her husband was alive. “I’m so, so happy,” she said. “His survival after more than 40 hours adrift in the storm is a miracle.”
Neighbors and relatives crowded into the family’s small home to celebrate. Dong said she had spent two sleepless nights praying. “Every night I prayed to my (late) mother to protect him,” she said, her voice still trembling.
According to Dong, her husband had retired from fishing four or five years ago, but rushed to help when he saw someone in distress at sea. “It was when he got close to the man that the big waves swept him away,” she said. “When I heard he was missing, I collapsed; all I could do was look toward the sea and hope for a miracle.”
Authorities on Ly Son Island are still coordinating with rescue units to look for the remaining missing man. The incident highlights the dangers of typhoons and the bravery of those who risk their lives to save others. It also underscores the importance of quick action and cooperation during emergencies.
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