A Cypriot sailor severely injured by a large wave which killed two of his crew mates is recovering at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.The 34-year-old chief officer was yesterday “awake and able to talk” after his ordeal on December 30 aboard the Aegean Angel crude oil tanker, according to Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre.“He has friends who have arrived on the Island and are by his bedside,” said a duty officer.The Greek-flagged Aegean Angel was en route from Tallinn, Estonia to Houston, Texas when she ran into bad weather, including gale force eight winds, about 800 miles northeast of Bermuda.The ship’s owner, Athens-based Arcadia Shipmanagement, said in a statement yesterday that the captain, chief engineer and chief officer were on the deck checking for storm damage when a “large wave struck them with great force”.“As result, the master and the chief engineer lost their lives immediately, while the chief officer was seriously injured,” said the statement.“The management of Arcadia Shipmanagement wishes to extend their heartfelt condolences, sympathy and support to the relatives and friends of the unfortunate seafarers.”The chief officer suffered severe head injuries and was airlifted to Bermuda on Sunday morning by a US Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter, after a request for assistance from the Greek Minister of Citizen Protection.The US Coast Guard helicopter crew had flown to Bermuda the previous day from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, along with a HC-130J Hercules airplane, but both were grounded until 7.40am on Sunday due to hazardous 50 mph winds and 15 to 18ft seas.The rescue took place at 9.40 am about 180 miles northeast of the Island, when two replacement officers were transferred to the Aegean Angel.Senior Chief Petty Officer Carla Harsh, of the Coast Guard 5th District, said: “Although the unfortunate environmental circumstances proved fatal for two crew members, the multi-international agency joint coordination provided exceptional support, ensuring the injured crew member received prompt medical assistance.”The bodies of the 47-year-old captain and 33-year-old chief engineer who were both Greek and whose names have not been released by local authorities remained on the Aegean Angel.The 274 metre long merchant vessel is now heading to Freeport, Bahamas, with her cargo of fuel oil, where she is expected to arrive tomorrow.The Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre duty officer said the incident would be investigated by a “number of jurisdictions” including the ship’s country of register and her next port of arrival.“The full picture of exactly what happened is still not 100 percent clear,” he added.A KEMH spokeswoman said the chief officer was stable on a general ward yesterday afternoon; he declined to be interviewed by The Royal Gazette.l The man’s age was incorrectly reported as 35 in yesterday’s newspaper, based on wrong information provided by Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre.