THREE ANCHOR BAY: At 09h45, Friday, 20th May, NSRI Table Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Rotary Endeavor following reports of a paddler suffering a dislocated shoulder off-shore of Three Anchor Bay.It appears that the experienced paddler, a 23 year old male, from Pinelands, had been paddling with a paddling partner and while holding onto his fellow paddlers paddle board the swells caused one paddle board to dip in the swell and the action is believed to have caused the paddlers right shoulder to dislocate.The two paddlers contacted Kaskazi Kayaks shop in Three Anchor Bay where an off-duty NSRI volunteer was at the shop at the time and the alarm was raised. Two paddlers from the Kaskazi Kayaks shop launched sea kayaks to render assistance and on their arrival on the scene, 500 meters off-shore of Three Anchor Bay, the injured paddler was found to be safe but suffering extreme pain from a dislocated right shoulder and NSRI Table Bay were summoned.On their arrival on the scene NSRI Table Bay rescuers took the injured paddler onboard the sea rescue craft and his paddle board was recovered and he was brought to the OPBC (Oceana Power Boat Club) where ER24 paramedics took over medical care of the patient and he was transported to hospital in a stable condition by ER24 ambulance for further treatment. The two paddlers from Kaskazi Kayaks shop who launched to render assistance were commended.
WEST COAST: At approximately 09h30 on Friday, 20th May, SA Air Force 22 Squadron, NSRI ASR (Air Sea Rescue) and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad were placed on alert following a request for medical assistance made by a ships agent to MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre).The Captain of the 25 meter fishing trawler Iron Maiden suffered a suspected heart attack. A Western Cape Government EMS duty doctor had medically evaluated the patients condition, in communications with the crew of the vessel, and it was deemed appropriate to render assistance at the earliest opportunity.The vessel, sailing from Brazil to Cape Town, was approximately 200 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Colombine, on the West Coast, when the alarm was raised. At that stage they were out of range of an immediate rescue operation and MRCC instructed the crew of Iron Maiden to make best possible speed towards Saldanha Bay while medical advice on the treatment of the patient was communicated to the crew by the EMS duty doctor.An SA Air Force 22 Squadron helicopter was tasked to carry out a rescue operation. NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI Mykonos were all placed on alert.At approximately 07h40, on Saturday, 21st May, a SAAF 22 Squadron Lynx helicopter were airborne and they rendezvoused with the fishing trawler 106 nautical miles from Ysterplaat Air Force Base, off Saldanha Bay.NSRI ASR rescue swimmer Ernesta Swanepoel and EMS rescue paramedic Shakira Hartley were winch hoisted onto the vessel from the helicopter and they found the patient to be in a stable condition, showing signs and symptoms of an MI (Myocardial Infarction) and medical treatment was initiated.The patient, a 42 year old American, from Massachusetts, was hoisted into the helicopter safely and he was transported aboard the helicopter to Ysterplaat Air Force Base and then to hospital by EMS ambulance.The operation was completed by 09h40. This operation was the first sea rescue patient medical evacuation conducted by a Lynx helicopter in the history of the South African Air Force.
Picture by Pierre-Jacques Rabie: NSRI ASR crew, of the SAAF 22 Squadron Lynx helicopter and rescue crews preparing for the mercy flight this morning
Picture Major Marius Havenga: fishing vessel 'Iron Maiden'
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
