The health of four Quang Ngai fishermen injured in a brutal attack by a foreign vessel has stabilized as they recover in the hospital.

The fishermen, who experienced a terrifying encounter in the Hoang Sa Islands, shared their traumatic stories as they grappled with the aftermath of the assault, which left them injured and their equipment severely damaged.

On the evening of September 30, the fishing vessel QNg 95739 TS returned to Sa Ky Port in Quang Ngai province with ten crew members. Immediately upon arrival, three injured fishermen were rushed to Quang Ngai General Hospital, while one severely injured fisherman was transferred to a provincial hospital for urgent care.

Among the injured was Huynh Tien Cong, 47, who endured the worst injuries. He recalled his agonizing experience, saying, “A group from the foreign ship approached from behind and started hitting my arms and legs with a long metal rod. I just had to endure it, too afraid to resist.”

In the hospital, Nguyen Thanh Bien, the vessel's captain, described the harrowing encounter. “This fishing trip was a disaster, resulting in heavy losses and injuries to my crew,” he lamented. The vessel had set sail from Sa Ky Border Guard Station on September 13, targeting the Paracel Islands for fishing.

On the morning of September 29, while operating in the waters, they spotted a foreign ship identified as number 301 pursuing them. Sensing danger, Bien ordered the crew to head back to Sa Ky. However, an additional foreign vessel with number 101 joined the pursuit, deploying three smaller boats to encircle them.

Around 10am, approximately 40 foreign individuals armed with metal rods boarded the fishing vessel. Bien recalled, “I tried to escape to the bow, but two of them cornered me and began beating me until I lost consciousness.”

Another crew member, Nguyen Thuong, 34, recounted the brutal assault: “They were beating us mercilessly. I raised my hands to defend myself, knowing we couldn’t fight back. After their attack, they forced us to the front of the ship and covered us with a tarp.”

Thuong, who suffered injuries to his left arm, described how he was terrified when he overheard someone saying, “The captain has passed out.” Fearing for Bien's life, he pleaded for help to be given to him.

The assailants remained on the ship for hours, looting equipment and approximately four tons of seafood, causing an estimated loss of 500 million VND. They only left behind a positioning system for the fishermen to return to shore.

Once the foreign vessels departed, the fishermen quickly navigated back to shore. They encountered a fisheries surveillance vessel about 50 nautical miles from the coast, which provided assistance to the injured.

Having spent 20 years fishing in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, Captain Bien expressed his fears regarding the persistent threats from foreign ships. “We worry greatly. We hope that authorities will intervene and support fishermen so that we can safely earn a living,” he stated.

On October 1, at 1:12pm, the Binh Hai Border Guard Station received reports about the attack on the QNg 95739 TS while fishing in the Hoang Sa Islands. The captain urgently requested help due to multiple crew members suffering from broken limbs.

In response to the incident, on the evening of September 30, local authorities visited the injured fishermen, providing encouragement and financial assistance totaling 14 million VND.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to ensure the safety and protection of fishermen operating in Vietnam's territorial waters.