Patient evacuation off ship: Table Bay

Marc de Vos, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said:At 21h38, Monday, 03 September, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were alerted by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) reporting a man injured on the cargo ship UAL Lobito off-shore of the Port of Table Bay at anchorage.2 men were reportedly found to be unauthorised persons aboard the ship that had departed Table Bay Port earlier and one of the men had reportedly been injured from a fall onboard the ship. The ship had put to anchor and raised the alarm.NSRI Table Bay launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom accompanied by WC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics and rendezvoused with the ship at her anchorage in Table Bay and the SA Police Services were alerted.On arrival at the ship 2 NSRI rescue swimmers and the 2 EMS rescue paramedics were put aboard the ship and the injured man was found to be in a barely accessible area of the ship amongst containers and crew of the ship were unable to reach the location.A technical rescue operation using high angle ropes and equipment commenced and the man, aged 22, suffering a suspected fractured ankle sustained from a fall, was extricated by the rescue crew using a Stokes basket stretcher and high angle ropes and equipment and he was medically cared for by the EMS rescue paramedics.The second man, aged 18, was in the care of ships crew and was not injured.They are both reportedly from Tanzania.Both were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought into the Port of Table Bay and the injured patient has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition and the teenager has been taken into the care of the Sea Borderline Police and an investigation into the incident and the circumstances has been opened by Police.