Five of the six fishermen who were stranded at sea in the MV St Vincent VII for nine days are now in Kingstown, as arrangements are being made for them to return home.

They are staying at the Cobblestone Hotel in St Vincent’s capital after arrangements were finalised by the island’s Fisheries Department.

Unfortunately, Anthony Murray, who was alive when he was rescued from the vessel, died around 11:23 pm on Wednesday, just after he was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has reached out to the Government of St Vincent to express gratitude for all courtesies and considerations graciously extended at this difficult time.

The six men were first rescued by the crew aboard the MV MARVEL KITE, an LNG tanker flying the Singapore flag, which rescued the men aboard the stranded fishing vessel.

They were subsequently retrieved from the MV MARVEL KITE by members of the Vincentian Coast Guard at a rendezvous point at around 10:22 pm on Wednesday and transported to the Kingstown Cruise Ship Terminal, St Vincent.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Defence said that, upon arrival in St Vincent, the surviving crewmen had their vital signs checked and were taken to hospital for further examination and treatment.