RICHARDS BAY:Jacques Kruger, NSRI Richards Bay duty coxswain, said:At 18h00, Tuesday, 2 February, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were placed on alert to prepare to patient evacuate a 29 year old male, from Syria, a crewman injured onboard a bulk carrier motor vessel that was heading towards Richards Bay from deep sea.The patient was reportedly injured in a fall onboard the vessel and in communications between a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor and the ships medical staff it was deemed necessary to evacuate the patient to hospital as soon as possible.Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre coordinated the operation assisted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), WC Government Health EMS, Netcare 911 ambulance services, NSRI Richards Bay and NSRI Durban duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Port Health Authorities and Transnet National Ports Authority.Our sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay was put on alert and MRCC arranged for a SA Air Force 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter to carry out this patient evacuation operation.The SAAF 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter departed Durban AFB (Air Force Base) accompanied by 3 NSRI Durban airborne rescue swimmers and 2 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics.The helicopter landed in Richards Bay to collect additional gear and to collect an additional Netcare 911 rescue paramedic.On arrival at the vessel, 20 nautical miles off-shore, 1 NSRI rescue swimmer and 2 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were hoisted from the helicopter onto the deck of the ship.They stabilised the semi conscious patient and he was hoisted into the helicopter secured into a Stokes basket stretcher.The rescue crew were recovered into the helicopter and in the care of the Netcare 911 paramedics the patient was brought to a hospital in Richards Bay where he is receiving medical care.NSRI Richards Bay crew assisted to establish the landing zone at the hospital.NSRI commend the cooperation between all of the services in the rescue operation.The operation was completed just after midnight.
PORT ELIZABETH:Kevin Warren, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty coxswain, said:At 06h00, Wednesday, 3 February, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were alerted by the SA Air Force who had been tasked to prepare for a patient evacuation operation from a fishing trawler that was heading towards Port Elizabeth from deep sea.A 59 year old Chinese skipper of the vessel was reported to be in a serious condition with a medical complaint.A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor liaised with the ships crew and it was deemed necessary to evacuate the patient to hospital as soon as possible.Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre coordinated the operation assisted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), WC Government Health EMS, EC Government Health EMS, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Port Health Authorities and Transnet National Ports Authority.A SAAF 15 Squadron Charlie Flight BK-117 helicopter departed Port Elizabeth accompanied by 2 NSRI Port Elizabeth airborne rescue swimmers and an EMS rescue paramedic.On arrival at the vessel, 42 nautical miles from Port Elizabeth and 18 nautical miles off-shore of Woody Cape, 2 NSRI rescue swimmers and the rescue paramedic were hoisted from the helicopter onto the deck of the ship.They stabilised the unconscious patient and he was hoisted into the helicopter secured into a Stokes basket stretcher.The rescue crew were recovered into the helicopter and in the care of the EMS rescue paramedic the patient was brought to a hospital in Port Elizabeth where he is receiving medical care.NSRI commend the cooperation between all of the services in the rescue operation.The operation was completed just after midday.
