RESCUE OPERATIONS / 6 NOVEMBER 2016

Assistance at motor vehicle accident - Witsand. Patient evacuation off ship - East London

WITSAND:Theo Erasmus, NSRI Witsand station commander, said:At 16h30, Friday, 04th November, NSRI Witsand dispatched NSRI medical crew in a sea rescue vehicle to assist at a motor vehicle accident reported on the R324 between Witsand and the N2 motorway.SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS and a local doctor had also been activated but assistance from NSRI Witsand was requested as we were closest to the scene, 10 km outside of Witsand, at the time.On arrival on the scene we found a vehicle to have rolled on the gravel road and a single occupant of the vehicle, a local 64 year old male, a farmer, was found evicted from the motor vehicle and lying injured by the roadway.Our NSRI medics stabilised the man and EMS paramedics and the doctor took over care of the man on their arrival and he has been transported to hospital in a stable condition by EMS ambulance.The quick response of EMS and Emergency Services is commended.Police are investigating the accident.EAST LONDON:Geoff McGregor, NSRI East London station commander, said:At 06h15, Sunday, 06th November, NSRI East London dispatched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Lotto to rendezvous with the bulk carrier Vogue Master 3 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of East London.Medical assistance had been requested from the ship reporting a 45 year old sailor onboard suffering lower abdominal pain and requiring a transfer to hospital for treatment and NSRI East London were placed on alert at 20h00 on Saturday evening with the vessel sailing towards East London.On arrival at the ship the patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and the patient has been brought to shore and transported to hospital in a stable condition.

Photograph by NSRI East London shows the sea rescue craft Spirit of Lotto en route to rendezvous with the casualty ship. -ENDS- TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE