SEA RESCUE – Richards Bay – Thursday, 13 February. Patient evacuation off a ship:

Jacques Kruger, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said:At 11h09, Thursday, 13th February, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for a patient evacuation of the Master of a Bulk Carrier approaching the Port of Richards Bay.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Round Table II was launched accompanied by 2 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics.We rendezvoused with the ship off-shore of the Port of Richards Bay and NSRI crew and the rescue paramedics boarded the ship finding the Ships Master suffering a traumatic injury reportedly sustained in a fall and in a serious condition.An SA Air Force 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter was activated from Durban to assist in the patient evacuation operation before being stood down en route to the scene after TNPA Port Control secured a berthing for the ship to enter Port and berth immediately.The patient was stabilised onboard the ship by the rescue paramedics while entering the Port and on entering the Port the patient was transferred from the ship to the Netcare 911 ambulance secured into a stretcher and he has been transported to hospital in Durban in the care of paramedics in a stable condition.MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority), WC Government Health EMS and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) assisted in logistics, coordination and communication during this operation.