Port Elizabeth – Saturday, 02 May. Iraqi sailor deceased:

Justin Erasmus, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:At 08h50, Saturday, 02 May, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew and EC Government Health EMS were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to respond to rendezvous with a bulk carrier motor vessel approaching Port Elizabeth from last Port of call Cape Town to attend to a 52 year old Iraqi crewman onboard the ship suffering an emergency medical condition, not Covid-19 related.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft was launched accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic and we rendezvoused with the ship 7 nautical East of Cape Recife.The EMS rescue paramedic and an NSRI rescue swimmer were transferred onto the ship and the patient was found to be in a critical condition.The paramedic took over emergency medical treatment from the ships medical crew and the patient, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and the EMS paramedic and NSRI medics continued with medical care onboard the sea rescue craft while the patient was brought to our NSRI Port Elizabeth sea rescue base and in the care of paramedics he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance.Despite extensive efforts by hospital medical staff sadly the patient passed away.Condolences are conveyed to his family, friends and colleagues.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, Transnet National Ports Authority and the Port Health Authority assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation -ENDS-