NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASE:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESEA RESCUE – West Coast – Monday, 8 March 2021Patient evacuation from a fishing trawler Junre Marais, NSRI Yzerfontein duty commander, said:At 18h08, Monday, 8 March, NSRI Yzerfontein duty crew were activated by Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) reporting a 74 year old Cape Town fisherman suffering a medical complaint and needing to be evacuated to hospital from a fishing vessel off-shore on the West Coast.The fishing vessel had alerted Maritime Radio Services and MRCC arranged for a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor to evaluate the patient's condition in communications with the vessels crew.It was deemed that the patient's condition was serious and he needed to be evacuated to hospital as soon as possible.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, NSRI Yzerfontein duty controllers, Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, Swartland Fire and Rescue Services, Transnet National Ports Authority and the Port Health Authority assisted MRCC in logistics and coordination of the rescue operation.The vessel was instructed to head towards the nearest harbour which at that time being Yzerfontein Harbour.We launched the sea rescue craft Rotary Onwards, accompanied by a Swartland Fire and Rescue Services rescue paramedic, and we rendezvoused with the fishing vessel 10 nautical off shore.The rescue paramedic and 2 NSRI rescue crew were transferred onto the fishing vessel and the patient was secured to a trauma board and transferred onto our sea rescue craft assisted by crew of the fishing vessel.The patient was brought to our sea rescue station at Yzerfontein harbour and he has been transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.The operation was completed at 20h20.-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 9774Released by:Craig LambinonSEA RESCUE COMMUNICATIONSEmail: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | www.searescue.org.za
