Pingtan‘s’ immigration officers facilitate entry permits for rescued fishermen. [Photo by Cai Shaohang]

What happened to three fishermen from Taiwan who got lost at sea, and how were they rescued?

On Feb. 18, three fishermen from Taiwan, Lin Wenjian, Xu Mingzheng, and Lin Shengzhang, set out to go fishing in the Taiwan Straits from Pingtung, Taiwan. However, their boat experienced engine and GPS failures, causing them to drift aimlessly in the rough seas. To make matters worse, the boat hit a reef and began to take on water, putting their lives in danger.

With no signal or way to call for help, the three fishermen were stranded at sea for hours, wearing only their life jackets and trying to stay afloat. The situation was dire, with no food, water, or shelter. At 6 am on Feb. 19 local time, the men were ready to give in to fate when they spotted a glimmer of hope- a man on a nearby mountain. Huang Guofu, a local fisherman from Pingtan, the closest point from the mainland to the island of Taiwan, heard a faint call of distress.

Huang, an experienced fisherman, immediately set out to rescue the stranded fishermen. He reached their boat and threw a rope, which the fishermen used to pull themselves to his boat. After an hour and a half, Huang successfully rescued all three of them and brought them to safety on land.

After confirming that the fishermen were unharmed, Huang prepared a hot meal of Longevity Noodles for them, a local custom that symbolizes good luck and safety. The local authorities also took action to help the fishermen and ensure their safety.

After the incident, Lin Wenjian and his companions expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Huang Guofu and the local authorities for their timely assistance, which saved their lives.

On Feb. 22, three compatriots returned to Taiwan. 

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