Vietsovpetrol, a Russian-Vietnamese joint venture for oil and gas exploration in Vung Tau City, yesterday hired a helicopter to take ashore five fishermen who have got poisoned with gas while aboard their boat. These fishermen, including Bui Thanh Chinh, 41, Bui Thanh Ut, 37, Huynh Van Hoang, 34, Tran Van Loi, 20, and Danh Em, 33, got poisoned when their boat BV 7679 TS was operating about 250 km off the city on Thursday afternoon. They passed away after inhaling an unidentified toxic gas that came off from the hold containing ice and fish, where they were working. Other fishermen took the victims to the deck of the boat, hung a white flag there and used walkie-talkies to call for emergency help. At the time, Ky Van 01, a ship belonging to Vietsovpetrol, received the SOS call and informed the case to the Tam Dao drilling rig, which is ownced by the joint venture.

A doctor was sent from the rig to the scene to examine and treat the victims at 5 pm, but their conditions could not be improved. Four hours later, due to their critical conditions, they were taken to the rig by Ky Van 01 for further treatment.

The rig then reported the case to the Vietsovpetrol management board, which later decided to hire a helicopter to take the fishermen ashore.  On May 3 morning, the victims were taken to Le Loi Hospital in Vung Tau in two ambulances of the Vietsovpetrol Health Center. Dr Tran Van Bay, director of the hospital, said  that gas poisoning can lead to a lack of oxygen in brain, and if not treated timely and properly, patients may suffer brain death.    In taking with Tuoi Tre, Vu Nam Cuong, deputy general director of Vietsovpetro, said the taking of the fishermen ashore cost not less than VND400 million (US$19,230).