Navy sailor jumps ship off northern Taiwan, swims to shore

Military police are questioning a Taiwanese navy sailor after he jumped off his ship as it left the Port of Keelung last night, and swam to shore.

Keelung Port police received a report from a security guard at Taiwan Ship Building Company on Heping Island at around 1:30 am this morning, June 17, saying that an unidentified man was seeking help after landing on shore wearing a life jacket.

Police and ambulance personnel took the man to hospital for a medical examination. Police identified the man as a navy sailor named Ou. Ou stated that he jumped overboard as the ROCN Ming-chuan left the Port of Keelung.

According to navy officials, the Cheng Gong-class missile frigate ROCN Ming-chuan (PFG-1112) left the Port of Keelung on the evening of June 16 on a naval reconnaissance mission. At around 10:30 pm, the sailor named Ou was found absent during a roll call and cabin inspection. Fearing that Ou may have fallen overboard, Ou’s family was informed, ships were dispatched for search and rescue operations, and help was requested from the National Rescue Command Center.

At 1:50 am, the navy was informed that Ou had been found on shore and had been sent to hospital.

The case is now being investigated by military police and the navy. Naval Command said that Ou has been dismissed from the hospital, and naval psychologists, investigators, and legal personnel have been dispatched to examine the case.

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