Captain Cancels Rescue Call for Crew Member, Sentenced to Imprisonment in Appeal Trial

A 40-year-old captain, who repeatedly canceled the rescue call for a crew member in his 50s, ultimately leading to the crew member's death after suffering severe injuries while working, was sentenced to imprisonment in the appeal trial.

The injured crew member had repeatedly requested the coast guard for help, pleading "please save me" while experiencing extreme pain; however, the coast guard, believing the captain's assertion that "they do not need to come," sent the rescue vessel back, which has caused distress.

According to a comprehensive report by News1 on the 27th, Captain A (48) was indicted on charges of abandonment leading to death (abandonment resulting in death) for causing the death of crew member B (59) by neglecting him at sea off Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, on November 29, 2023, around 9:43 AM.

Shocking Circumstances Surrounding the Incident and Obstruction of Rescue Requests

Crew member B had suffered a maritime accident at 8:14 PM on the 28th of the same month, getting caught in the gear line along with fishnets on the vessel.

At the time of the accident, B was in such a serious condition that he could neither move nor walk, complaining of excruciating pain in his leg.

The sequence of events from the moment of the accident until the victim's death was shocking. B repeatedly requested help from emergency services and the coast guard, saying, "My leg is badly hurt; it hurts so much," but A interrupted and canceled all these requests.

During a phone call with the coast guard's situation room, A stated, "The victim only complains of leg pain. He is not seriously injured. The victim has had leg problems before. He cannot go now but will receive treatment tomorrow morning," thus canceling the dispatch.

When the coast guard's situation room asked A to "speak with the victim," he handed the phone to another crew member, who relayed that "he is fine."

The court concluded that the coast guard's situation room misunderstood the identity of the victim due to this.

Repeated Rescue Requests and a Tragic Conclusion

After the call with A, the situation room ordered the patrol boat to return, saying, "We spoke with both the captain and the patient; they do not need to move."

As the coast guard did not arrive, B called the patrol boat again around 11:05 PM.

At a similar time, when a firefighter dispatched due to a different 119 call reached out to B, A told them, "We have communicated with the situation room to cancel the ambulance," thus refusing the dispatch.

In a desperate situation, B called the patrol boat again at 4:05 AM on the 29th, asking, "Why haven't you come? What if you don't come until now?" After which the coast guard responded only with, "Tell the captain," and told A to "explain to the victim convincingly."

Ultimately, B was left on the deck for about 12 hours before he lost his life.

An autopsy confirmed that B had suffered severe injuries, including fractures of nine ribs and pelvic bones, multiple body traumas, and internal bleeding due to getting caught in the gear.

Court's Judgment and Future Outlook

The first trial sentenced A to three years in prison; the Gwangju High Court’s Second Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Lee Ui-young) rejected both the appeals by A claiming 'disproportionate penalty' and the prosecutor's appeal on the 24th.

The appeal court stated, "The defendant canceled the coast guard dispatch, preventing the victim from receiving help from 119 and the coast guard. Considering the totality of the evidence, even if indirectly, there was intent for abandonment leading to death."

The court also mentioned, "Although the defendant has belatedly admitted to the crime and expressed remorse, considering the serious nature of the offense, the original sentence falls within a reasonable range of discretion."

A has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court on the 25th, contesting the appeal court's ruling.

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