Fisherman rescued after hours adrift in dinghy

A fisherman was rescued by the ferry Smyril after spending several hours adrift in a dinghy east of Sandoy, the Faroese broadcaster KVF reports.

The man, who asked not to be named, had been fishing in a small six-metre boat when he encountered strong currents and a large wave swamped the vessel. He deployed a dinghy and abandoned ship as the boat began to sink.

His phone was inoperable, leaving him unable to call for help. He drifted south in the dinghy, spotting other boats in the distance but too far to reach. As the weather improved, he saw Smyril approaching from the north and fired a flare.

At around 17:00, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a report from Smyril, which was en route from Tórshavn to Krambatangi, about a person in distress. Crew and passengers aboard the ferry noticed a red object in the water east of Sandoy. Captain Niels Harald Michelsen altered course and, upon closer inspection, saw a man waving for help.

The fisherman had been in the dinghy for approximately two to three hours and was already some distance south of his original position. He was taken aboard Smyril and later transferred to the national hospital in Tórshavn for examination.

After an overnight stay, he was discharged the following day. He reported feeling well but has accepted an offer of psychological support. The man lives in the capital region.