Port Elizabeth – Friday, 7 August. Patient evacuation:

Justin Erasmus, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:At 06h25, Friday, 7 August, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, to patient evacuate a 34 year old Chinese crewman suffering an hand injury on a bulk carrier motor vessel at anchor in Algoa Bay.Arrangements for the patient evacuation had been made on Thursday afternoon following consultation between NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers and the ships agent for the operation to take place on Friday morning at first light.On arrival on the scene in calm sea conditions an NSRI rescue swimmer was transferred onto the ship and the man, in a stable condition, was taken into the care of our NSRI rescue swimmer and he was transferred from the ship onto the sea rescue craft.In the care of the EMS rescue paramedic we brought the patient to our NSRI sea rescue base and he was transported by EMS ambulance to hospital for further medical care.All Covid-19 precautions and protocols were observed during the operation.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, EC Government Health EMS, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers, Transnet National Ports Authority and Port Health authorities assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in communications, coordination and logistics during the operation.The operation completed at 08h38.