Durban – Patient evacuation off a ship:

Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said:A 42 year old Filipino crewman of a bulk carrier has been patient evacuated from the ship off-shore of Durban this morning.NSRI Durban duty crew and Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were placed on alert late yesterday afternoon by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to prepare to patient evacuate the crewman, suffering a medical emergency, at first light on Tuesday morning.MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), a Government Health EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) assisted in coordination and logistics for the operation.At 07h30, Tuesday, 01 October, NSRI Durban duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie, accompanied by Netcare 911 rescue paramedics, and rendezvoused with the ship off-shore of the Port of Durban.A rescue paramedic and NSRI rescue crew were transferred onto the ship and the ships medical crew handed the patient into the care of the rescue paramedic and the patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and brought to our NSRI rescue base and he has been transported to hospital in a stable condition by Netcare 911 ambulance.The patient evacuation operation was completed at 10h15.