British Captain Killed Saving His Crew in Iranian Air Attack on Saudi Tanker

A British sea captain died saving his crew, according to a dramatic eyewitness account Friday from a wounded survivor of an Iranian air attack on a Saudi Arabian tanker.

Capt. David Lycett, covered with blood from shrapnel wounds, died on the bridge of the Al Safaniya on Thursday after organizing his men’s evacuation.

Two Pakistanis among the crew of 33--pumpman Rasheed Mohammed, 34, and second steward Shams Deen, 29--were also killed in the attack in the Persian Gulf about 75 miles north of Abu Dhabi. The crew included 23 Pakistanis and 10 Britons.

Pakistani Raef Ali, one of six or seven injured crewmen taken to Abu Dhabi Central Hospital, told Reuters that Lycett had “struggled heroically” to save his crew.

Ali, 28, a quartermaster, said Lycett shouted to everyone to leave the accommodation quarters, set ablaze by a missile fired from a helicopter around noon. He ran through the ship shouting, “Save your lives! Save your lives!”

Lycett then mounted the bridge and was trying to control the situation when shrapnel, apparently from a second missile 10 minutes later, struck him in the head and body, Ali said.