Flare sighting, Lamberts Bay; Patient evacuation, Table Bay:

LAMBERTS BAY:

Leon de Gruchy, NSRI Lamberts Bay coxswain, said:

'At 21h30, Saturday, 02nd May, NSRI Lamberts Bay duty crew launched our sea rescue craft following eye-witness reports of a red distress flare sighting 7 nautical miles West of Lamberts Bay.

'Two empty boat trailers found at the Lamberts Bay slip way could not be accounted for and a search continued until midnight in calm sea conditions but no sign of any craft or persons in difficulty were located. The origin of the red distress flares remains a mystery and there are no reports of any vessel or people overdue or missing in the area.'

TABLE BAY:

Kim Germishuys, NSRI ASR rescue officer, said:

'At 17h00 on Saturday, 02nd May, NSRI ASR (Air Sea Rescue) were placed on alert by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to prepare to patient evacuate a 47 year old Indian crewman, suffering a suspected heart attack, from the bulk carrier ORE CHINA at first light on Sunday, 03rd May.

'The vessel, sailing from Brazil to Singapore, had diverted from deep sea to sail closer to Cape Town for the patient evacuation after reporting to authorities on Friday morning of the crewman suffering a suspected heart attack and although in a stable condition the patient required transportation to the nearest medical facility.

'An SA Air Force 22 Squadron Oryx helicopter accompanied by NSRI ASR rescue swimmers and a WC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic departed the Ysterplaat Air Force Base at 10h04, Sunday, 03rd May, following a brief weather delay and landed on the deck of the ship 7 nautical miles off-shore of Green Point, in a 3 meter sea swell and light North Westerly winds, and the patient, walking wounded and in a stable and satisfactory condition, was taken aboard the helicopter and airlifted to Ysterplaat Air Force Base and he has been transported to a medical facility by representatives of the ships local agents. '

-ENDS-

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ASR crew help the patient to the waiting helicopter.