PE : CASUALTY EVACUATIONS OFF 2 SHIPS

PORT ELIZABETH – TUESDAY 25th OCTOBER 2011At 07h30 today, Tuesday 25 October, our Port Elizabeth volunteers were called out to rendezvous with the 200 meter bulk carrier MANDARIN EAGLE, sailing from Gabon to Singapore. They had requested urgent medical assistance for two crew members, 56 and 24 year old, who had been washed across the ships deck, after a wave swept over it yesterday.Following the incident, in the deep-sea, the ships captain set course for Port Elizabeth while their ships medic attended to the patients. A Metro EMS duty doctor monitored the patients progress during the night via radio telephone (communications were set up by Maritime Radio Services).Our NSRI volunteer duty crew launched EIKOS RESCUER IV at 07h30 this morning accompanied by a Gardmed Ambulance Service paramedic. They rendezvoused with the ship 3 nautical miles outside of the Port and the patients were transferred to the sea rescue boat, accompanied by their ships medic, who acted as interpreter. Once safely ashore both men were transported to hospital by a Gardmed ambulance in stable conditions.The 56 year old had a leg fracture and a laceration to his leg and the 24 year old bruising and lacerations to his face with possible facial bone fractures. At 09h50 our NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were called for a second time. This time following a request for urgent medical assistance from the 200 meter bulk carrier BEAUFIKS. She was also passing the South African coast and sailing from The United Arab Emirates to Brazil.A 49 year old crewman, the ships head chef, was suffering from hypertension (raised blood pressure).On arrival NSRI medics stabilized the patient who was then transferred onto our sea rescue boat and brought ashore. He has been taken to hospital for further examination and treatment.