Sailor Killed, Two Others Injured in Apparent Lifeboat Accident Off Germany

A Bremen Rescue boat attends to injured sailors from the MTM Westport. Photo credit: GMRS

One sailor was killed and two others were seriously injured Friday in an apparent lifeboat accident while off the coast of Germany near the Elbe River.

The German Society for Sea Rescue Service reports that its Bremen unit responded Friday morning to a report one man overboard and two seriously injured on board a lifeboat from the Hong Kong-flagged oil and chemical tanker MTM Westport approximately 11 miles southeast of Helgoland, Germany.

Rescue boats arrived on scene to attend to those injured while a search and rescue helicopter from the German navy plucked the man overboard the water.

Tragically, one of the sailors died despite efforts to resuscitate by doctor who was flown to the scene. The two injured were flown to a local hospital for treatment.

The MTM Westport was reportedly at the time of the accident.

Local media reports say that the boat and sailors fell from a height of about 11 meters. It is unclear from the reports if the boat was the enclosed freefall lifeboat or actually the ship’s rescue craft/tender.

The incident is under investigation.

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