Tourist airlifted off Robben Island following heart attack.

At 12h47, Saturday, 06th September, NSRI Table Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew and the WC Government Health EMS were activated following a request for urgent medical assistance from Robben Island management staff of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts being conducted on a 44 year old female, from Netherlands on the Island.It appears that the tourist suffered cardiac arrest while touring the island and bystanders, a friend of the female, a New York doctor who was also touring the island at the time, initiated CPR while Robben Island staff raised the alarm and a Nurse from Robben Island was summoned to assist with other staff and security from the Island.The NSRI Table Bay sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF VODACOM, that was on the water at the time conducting routine training exercises, and the Red Cross Air Mercy Services skymed rescue helicopter responded. On arrival on-scene paramedics and NSRI medics found a Robben Island nursing sister, a New York doctor, a friend of the female and Robben Island staff conducting CPR on a 44 year old Dutch female tourist. Paramedics and NSRI medics continued with Advanced Life Support CPR and the breathing and a heart beat was restored and the female has been airlifted aboard the Skymed helicopter to the Life Vincent Pallotti hospital in a critical condition and hospital staff have confirmed that the patient remains in ICU in a serious but stable condition following surgery.