Injured fisherman evacuated off deck boat

Mossel Bay – 03 June, 2011: Injured fisherman evacuated off deck boat:At midnight NSRI Mossel Bay were alerted by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for urgent medical assistance from the fishing Deck boat Sundancer. A 43 year old crewman, with back injuries sustained after reportedly losing his footing on deck, need to be taken to hospital.The fishing vessel was requested to head towards Mossel Bay.Sea conditions were a 3 meter gentle swell and a 10 knot South Easterly wind.The Metro EMS duty doctor was alerted and the patient was medically assessed via a radio telephone link established through Maritime Radio Services. It was decided, based on the diagnosis made from all available information, that Metro EMS paramedics would need to be transported to the patient in order for advanced medical treatment to be initiated.We launched our sea rescue craft Vodacom Rescuer I, with a Metro EMS paramedic onboard, to rendezvous with the casualty boat. A NSRI rescue volunteer and a Metro EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onto the deck boat seven miles off shore and the patient was stabilized.Based on the patients serious but stable condition, it was decided to secure and continue to treat the patient onboard the deck boat and not to attempt to transfer the patient onto our sea rescue craft in order to avoid any unnecessary movement. The deck boat motored gently towards Mossel Bay escorted by our sea rescue craft.On arrival in Mossel Bay's harbor the patient was transferred into a Metro EMS ambulance and he has been transported to hospital in a stable condition.The sea rescue casualty evacuation operation was completed at 05h30.