A late night medical call for NSRI Simon's Town

FALSE BAY:Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simons Town station commander, said:At 17h30, Tuesday, 23rd October, NSRI Simon's Town duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from the 19 meter local fishing vessel reporting a crewman onboard suffering a medical emergency.At that stage they were some 90 nautical miles from Simon's Town at fishing grounds and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) arranged a Government Health EMS duty doctor to evaluate the patient and it was deemed necessary to evacuate the patient to hospital as soon as possible.The fishing vessel started to head towards Cape Point at best speed of 7 knots.Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted with long range VHF communications.The NSRI Simon's Town sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III was launched accompanied by CMR (Cape Medical Response) paramedics and NSRI Hermanus were placed on alert.We rendezvoused with the casualty vessel at 22h45, 55 nautical miles South East of Cape Point.The patient, in a serious condition, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and in the care of the paramedics transported to our sea rescue base in Simon's Town.A CMR ambulance has transported the patient to hospital in a serious but stable condition.The operation concluded at 04h00.Pic: Simon McDonnell