2 patient evacuation off vessels in Port Elizabeth, and Catamaran assisted in Richards Bay

NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEA RESCUE – NSRI – STATION 6, Port Elizabeth. STATION 19, Richards Bay

Monday, 11 January 2021

2 patient evacuation off vessels in Port Elizabeth, and Catamaran assisted in Richards Bay

PORT ELIZABETH:

Kevin Warren, NSRI Station 6, Port Elizabeth duty coxswain, said:

At 08h53 on Saturday, 9 January, 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 52 year old Chinese male crewman suffering a medical complaint from a 332 meter FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) vessel approaching Port Elizabeth.

Our duty crew were placed on alert the night before to prepare for the operation.

We rendezvoused with the vessel, in calm sea conditions, 12 nautical miles off-shore of Port Elizabeth.

The patient, in a stable condition, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and taken into the care of the EMS rescue paramedic.

He was brought to our sea rescue station and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance for further medical care.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), Telkom Maritime Radio Services, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, the Transnet Port Health Authority, EC Government Health EMS, the ship agent, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers and Transnet National Ports Authority, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in operational logistics and coordination.

Then at 16h30, Saturday, 9 January, our NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were alerted to prepare to patient evacuate a 30 year old local fisherman suffering a medical complaint from a fishing trawler approaching Port Elizabeth.

At 18h30 we launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, and rendezvoused with the fishing vessel 2 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth in 1.5 meter to 2 meter sea swells with 25 to 30 knot winds.

On arrival at the vessel an NSRI rescue swimmer and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onto the vessel and the patient was assessed and found to be in a stable condition.

The patient, in a stable condition, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft.

He was brought to our sea rescue station and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance for further medical care.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), Telkom Maritime Radio Services, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, the Transnet Port Health Authority, EC Government Health EMS, the ship agent, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers and Transnet National Ports Authority, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in operational logistics and coordination.

RICHARDS BAY:

Jacques Kruger, NSRI Station 19, Richards Bay duty coxswain, said:

At 12h43, Sunday, 10 January, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a 40 foot Catamaran, with a local husband and wife onboard, reporting fuel starvation and requiring assistance North of Richards Bay.

Diesel was arranged from a family member in Richards Bay and we launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Round Table II and rendezvoused with the casualty 15 nautical North of Richards Bay.

An NSRI rescue swimmer, who is also a diesel mechanic was transferred onto the casualty Catamaran and assisted with the diesel transfer but only one motor was able to be started.

The casualty Catamaran made her way towards Richards on one motor but experiencing difficulties on only one motor to steer the vessel our duty crew launched the deep sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay and we met up with the casualty 6 nautical miles from the Port of Richards Bay.

As a precaution a towline was established and we towed them into Richards Bay without incident and once safely moored they required no further assistance.

The couple had been in and around the Inhaca Island, Mozambique, over the past few months before returning to Richards Bay.

The operation completed at around 20h45.

-ENDS-

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is the charity organisation that saves lives on South African waters – both coastal and inland. Our goal is to prevent drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives.

Operating from base stations along the SA coastline, and on inland dams, our rescue volunteers are on call, at all hours, every day of the year. Our rescue crew receives no payment and neither do we charge the people we rescue.

We visit schools around the country, teaching children about water safety. Our drowning prevention measures include our online training academy, with free courses for crew and the public, emergency signage, Pink Rescue Buoys for emergency flotation, rescue swimmers, lifeguards, and active patrols during peak seasons.

Our organisation is totally reliant on donations and sponsorships. This enables us to do the work of saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures.

You can do your bit to assist. Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.

SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY: 112 or 087 094 9774

Released by:

Craig Lambinon

SEA RESCUE COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | www.searescue.org.za