Injured fisherman patient evacuated from fishing trawler

At 20h18, Tuesday, 12th November, NSRI Simons Town duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from the 42 foot Cape Town fishing trawler LINCOLN. They reported a crewman on board suffering chest injuries after he reportedly fell into a fish bin (fish hold) while their catch was being poured in, causing him to subsequently get buried under the fish. Only his foot still protruded from the bin, with the rest of his body buried under fish. Fellow crew grabbed his foot and managed to pull him out of the bin from under the fish.The fishing trawler then headed towards Simons Town while raising the alarm.Our NSRI Simons Town duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF SAFMARINE III accompanied by a WC Government Health EMS technical rescue team and responded and rendezvoused with LINCOLN off-shore of Buffels Bay, Cape Point.On arrival on-scene the EMS technical rescue team and NSRI rescuers were transferred aboard the LINCOLN and treatment for suspected fractured ribs was administered by the EMS paramedics to the 39 year old fisherman from Vanwyksvlei in the Northern Cape.The patient was secured into a specialised Stokes basket stretcher and transferred aboard our sea rescue craft and medical treatment was continued en route to our sea rescue station in Simons Town.On arrival in Simons Town harbour, at 01h00, the patient has been transferred into an EMS ambulance and transported to the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in a stable condition for further treatment.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONESMS 32287 with your name and a message of support for our Sea Rescue crew (SMS charged at R1) File image