DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – A Filipino crew member was evacuated near Bali after suffering a serious medical condition aboard a cargo vessel, prompting a coordinated rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
The crew member, identified as Tagayom Lorben Tubigon (37), was serving on board M/V Athanasia C, a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship. His condition was reported on Wednesday (April 15, 2026) at around 17:30 WITA by the ship’s local agent, PT Trans Cakrawala.
According to Denpasar Search and Rescue (SAR) Office Head I Nyoman Sidakarya, the incident is believed to have started earlier that day at approximately 03:00 WITA.
“We evacuated a crew member, a Filipino national, from the vessel after receiving reports of his deteriorating condition,” Sidakarya said on Thursday (April 16).
The patient had reportedly been ill since April 12, with symptoms worsening over time. He experienced seizures, muscle stiffness, tremors, foaming at the mouth, and loss of bladder control prior to the evacuation.
A joint rescue team, consisting of personnel from the Denpasar SAR Office, Bali Police’s Water and Air Unit (Ditpolairud), medical staff from Siloam Hospital, and the ship’s agent, was deployed for the operation.
At around 18:30 WITA, the SAR team departed from Benoa Port using RIB 02 Denpasar and headed toward a designated interception point at sea. The rescue vessel successfully reached M/V Athanasia C at approximately 20:00 WITA.
The evacuation was carried out using a crane and net system to safely transfer the crew member from the cargo ship to the rescue boat.
After being brought ashore at Benoa Port, the patient was handed over to the ship’s agent and transported by ambulance to Siloam Hospital for further medical treatment.
Additional support in the operation was provided by the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Benoa, the Benoa Port Authority (KSOP), Customs, Immigration Office Class I Denpasar, and Port Health authorities.