A Bahrain Coastguard team battled 10-foot waves and strong winds to airlift 17 sailors in a dramatic rescue operation at high seas yesterday (Friday).

The sailors had spent several hours in a raft in choppy seas before being saved by the helicopter team.

The 35-metre Indian boat Siddnath was shipping 485 tonnes of rice from the UAE to Iraq when it was engulfed by waves early morning.

The sailors, from Gujarat, radioed for help after their boat capsized north-east of Bahrain.

They were brought to Police Fort, Manama, and then taken to Salmaniya Medical Complex for check-ups.

The 17 sailors, including their captain Yousef Hussein, are now being housed at the Coastguard headquarters, Sitra, until arrangements are made to send them back to India.

The Indian Embassy, in co-operation with the Indian Community Relief Fund, supplied clothing and other essentials to the 17 crewmen.-TradeArabia News Service