Patient evacuation off a Chokka fishing vessel

Neil Jones, NSRI St Francis Bay duty coxswain, said:At 15h19, Tuesday, 6 October, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from a Chokka fishing vessel off-shore of Jeffreys Bay reporting a 67 year old local crewman onboard the vessel to be suffering a medical emergencyThe sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched and NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI St Francis Bay duty controllers alerted TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre).A Private Care ambulance services ambulance was activated and dispatched to stand-by at our sea rescue station.We rendezvoused with the vessel 12 nautical miles towards Jeffreys Bay from the Port of St Francis.On arrival on the scene we took over care of the casualty and he was transferred onto our sea rescue craft.In the care of NSRI medics the man was brought to our sea rescue station aboard our sea rescue craft where he was transferred into the ambulance and in a stable condition he has been transported to hospital by Private Care ambulance for further medical care.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, EC Government Health EMS, NSRI St Francis Bay 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 16h34.