Third crew member rescued from capsized ship, second Aussie identified

A third crewman from a cargo ship that capsized this week off the coast of Japan has been found alive after he was spotted by a search plane, Japan's coastguard says.

The man, 30-year-old Filipino Jay-nel Rosals, was found on a life raft waving for help 2km off Kodakarajima, a small island in Japan's southern Kagoshima prefecture, the coastguard said on Friday.

He was conscious and was able to walk when the coast guard rescued him.

A Filipino crew member of Gulf Livestock 1, a cargo ship carrying livestock and dozens of crew that went missing after issuing a distress signal due to Typhoon Maysak, floating on a life raft, is rescued by Japan Coast Guard crew onboard the vessel Kaimon at the East China Sea, to the west of Amami Oshima island in southwestern Japan.
A Filipino crew member of Gulf Livestock 1 is rescued by Japan Coast Guard crew onboard the vessel Kaimon. Source: Reuters

Rescuers also found an overturned orange lifeboat floating at sea 4km off Kodakarajima but no one was found on that boat.

Mr Rosals was only the third crew member to be found so far from the Gulf Livestock 1, which capsized in the East China Sea on Wednesday and is believed to have sunk.

The ship, with 43 crew on board and a cargo of 6000 cattle, had sent a distress call amid strong winds and heavy seas whipped up by Typhoon Maysak.

Earlier on Friday it emerged the vessel had a history of mechanical issues.

A Filipino crew member from the missing livestock ship seen in a blanket.
Another Filipino crew member rescued on Wednesday. Source: Reuters

Mr Rosals' rescue came hours after another crewman died after being pulled unconscious from the water by the coastguard.

The search is still on for the remaining 40 crew members, including Australian man Lukas Orda, a vet from the Gold Coast.

Late on Thursday, his wife Emma took to Facebook sharing a picture of herself with her husband. “Please come home really soon, we love you,” she wrote with a love heart emoji.

A second missing Australian who was on board the ship was identified by Nine News on Friday night as Sydney man William Mainprize.

William Mainprize of New South Wales has been identified as the second missing Aussie. Source:  Nine News
William Mainprize of New South Wales has been identified as the second missing Aussie. Source: Nine News

Rescuers have also found a life jacket and cattle carcasses in the area where the ship is believed to have sunk.

Gulf Livestock 1, owned by UAE-based Gulf Navigation, lost engine power before it was hit by a massive wave, according to Chief Officer Sareno Edvarodo, who was rescued on Wednesday.

Edvarodo, a 45-year-old Filipino, remains in hospital.

The crew was made up of 39 people from the Philippines, two from New Zealand and two from Australia, the coastguard said.

with Reuters

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