PORT ELIZABETH:
Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:
At 09h40, Sunday, 25th November, NSRI Port Elizabeth in cooperation with MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), Telkom Maritime Radio Services and Government Health EMS Control and an EMS duty doctor, investigated reports of a crewman suffering a medical emergency aboard a bulk carrier, in transit passing South African waters.
The EMS duty doctor confirmed that the patient needed to be be evacuated to hospital as soon as possible.
At 14h45, with the ship closer to Port Elizabeth, the sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft was launched accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic, an NSRI duty doctor and one of our NSRI crewmen who is a student paramedic.
We rendezvoused with the vessel at 17h02 34 nautical miles South East of Port Elizabeth in 4 meter swells and an NSRI crewman, an NSRI medic and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred aboard the ship and medical treatment commenced for the ill crewman who was found to be in a critical condition and his condition was stabilised.
Once stabilised onboard the ship the ill Filipino crewman was secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and at 20h16 transferred onto the sea rescue craft using a high-angle rig and rope extrication system.
Treatment by our NSRI medic, the EMS rescue paramedic and our NSRI doctor, continued onboard our sea rescue craft and the patient in a critical but stable condition was brought to our sea rescue base and he has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance.
Communications during the operation were assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services.
The rescue operation was completed at 23h00.
WILDERNESS:
Garth Dominy, NSRI Wilderness acting station commander, said:
At 16h56, Sunday, 25th November, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated by WC Government Health EMS control reporting a medical emergency and suspected drowning in progress at Swartvlei, Sedgefield.
The skipper of a boat, launching to go spearfishing, reported one of his crew had gone overboard and then appeared to be showing signs of suffering a Stroke (CVA – Cerebro-Vascular Accident).
They had recovered the man onto their boat and NSRI instructed them to immediately head for the shore where NSRI medics, Sedgefield Fire and Rescue Services and Eden 911 ambulance services responded and met them on the shore.
On arrival on the scene the man was medically treated and transported to hospital by Eden 911 ambulance in a serious but stable condition and we wish him a speedy recovery.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
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