A northwesterly gale blew hard across the Hjeltefjord, just outside Bergen, where a 28-foot-long rib crashed on Wednesday morning. Three people, all employed at salmon producer Lerøy, fell into the sea, but were quickly picked up by vessels from the same company.
According to watch commander Ole Jakob Hartvigsen, the fire brigade was notified of the accident at 11.34.
“This has happened southeast of Rongesundet near Torsvik. It is blowing 12 meters per second (23 knots) now in the area,” Hartvigsen told Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende.
The men were out working on a cage in the fjord, when they were exposed to a breakwater and were thrown around.
The men ended up in the sea, and remained there for a while before being notified ashore. Two boats were sent to pick them up. They were cold but otherwise unharmed.
Several rescue vessels and a rescue helicopter were then directed to the crash site.
The three men are now on land and are receiving medical supervision, Lerøy stated.
