Patient casualty evacuated off passing ship

Gideon Loubser, NSRI Hermanus duty controller, said: 'On Monday, 14th January, at 20h06 NSRI Hermanus volunteer sea rescue duty crew and the NSRI helicopter unit were placed on alert by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for assistance from the Liberian registered bulk container ship Constel Papa, en route to Brazil, reporting the 59 year old Captain of the ship, from Poland, to be suffering abdominal swelling from unknown causes.'A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor evaluated the medical condition of the patient by radio telephone and it was determined that the patient should be casualty evacuated as soon as possible without delay to the nearest appropriate hospital and with the ship 20 nautical miles off-shore of Hermanus it was decided for our NSRI Hermanus volunteer sea rescue duty crew to launch our sea rescue craft SOUTH STAR and respond.'On arrival on-scene the patient was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to shore where he has been transported to hospital by an EMS ambulance in a stable condition. '