Port Alfred Fisherman evacuated

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Media Release:For Immediate Release:Sea Rescue – Port Alfred – Monday, 04th October, 2010. Fisherman casualty evacuated at sea.Juan Pretorius, Sea Rescue Port Alfred station commander, said: “At 07h35 sea rescue Port Alfred volunteers were called upon to casualty evacuate a crewmember of the 45ft Chokka boat “Sirocco” from St Francis Bay. The crewmember reportedly slipped and fell onboard and a possible hip fracture was suspected.“We launched our rescue craft Arthur Scales and NSRI volunteer crewmember Keryn van der Walt volunteered her private craft to assist in the operation and Keryn launched her private craft Aquavitea to rendezvous with the casualty craft which was making her way towards Port Alfred from 10 nautical miles off-shore.We met the casualty craft approximately 1 nautical mile off-shore and on our arrived on scene 3 of our sea rescue swimmers were transferred onto the casualty boat and they stabilized and secured the 42 year old injured crewmember, from Humansdorp, and he was secured onto a trauma board and then transferred onto our sea rescue craft Arthur Scales and then transferred onto Aquavitea and brought safely to port where we then transported the patient to a nearby hospital using our sea rescue 4x4 vehicle in a stable condition.“It was confirmed in hospital that the patient suffered a hip fracture and the patient remains in hospital for treatment.“A replacement crew member was also taken out to the casualty craft by NSRI Port Alfred.Attached please find a picture taken from Aquavitea of our rescue craft Arthur Scales alongside the casualty craft effecting the transfer of rescue swimmers.-ENDS-Released by:Craig LambinonSea Rescue Communications0823803800