Search for missing man & Patient evacuation off ship

PORT EDWARD:John Nicholas, NSRI Port Edward station commander, said:At 05h19, Wednesday, 08 November, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following reports of two men in difficulty in the Umtamvuna River.Medivac ambulance services and Police Search and Rescue were also activated to join the SA Police Services who were already on the scene and we towed our sea rescue craft the Discovery Rescue Runner which we launched on the scene at the Pont launch site.One of the men had been rescued and an extensive search for the second man revealed no sign of the man who is suspected to have drowned.Police Search and Rescue are continuing to search for the missing man.It is believed that both men were suspected of a crime and they were being pursued by Police when they got into difficulty in the river. The rescued man was not injured and he was taken into custody by Police.RICHARDS BAY:Jacques Kruger, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain:At 13h30, Wednesday, 08 November, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay, accompanied by a Meditrax rescue paramedic, following a request for medical assistance from the bulk carrier MV Danjin, at anchorage off-shore of Richards Bay, reporting a 23 year old Filipino crewman onboard suffering an amputated finger onboard.On arrival on the scene, in a 4 to 5 meter swell, the patient, walking wounded, was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and in the care of the rescue paramedic and our NSRI medics his wound, the index finger of the left hand, was redressed and we brought him to our sea rescue base and he has been transported to hospital by Meditrax ambulance in a stable condition.