Injured fisherman evacuated to hospital - Mapelane Beach

NATIONAL SEA RESCUE INSTITUTE (NSRI) MEDIA RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday 7th May 2021

Mapelane Beach - Injured fisherman evacuated to hospital

Jan Hoffman, NSRI St Lucia station commander, said:

At 14h31, Friday, 7 May, NSRI St Lucia duty crew were activated following reports to NSRI duty controllers from Mapelane Ski-boat Club of a fisherman injured at Mapelane Beach.

The local adult fisherman had been towing a ski-boat to be launched in the surf when the towing rope snapped causing the rope recoil to strike the man on the back and he collapsed severely injured.

Air support was requested from Netcare 911 HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services).

Netcare 911 dispatched a rescue paramedic and ambulance.

Fading light prevented the deployment of a helicopter.

Our sea rescue jet-rib was launched accompanied by first responders with medical equipment and responded to the barely accessible remote location where on arrival at Mapelane Bay the patient was found to be in a serious condition and medical treatment commenced.

A Netcare 911 rescue paramedic had arrived at St Lucia and our jet-rib sea rescue craft returned to St Lucia and the rescue paramedic was ferried to the scene on the sea rescue craft.

The rescue paramedic stabilised the patient on the scene.

The patient was loaded onto an off-road vehicle and transported to where the sea rescue jet-rib was stationed at the estuary.

The patient, in the care of the rescue paramedic and the NSRI first responder, was transported across the estuary secured into our jet-rib.

The patient was then loaded onto an NSRI rescue vehicle and gently transported to the St Lucia parking area where the Netcare 911 ambulance was standing-by.

Secured into a vacuum mattress the patient was loaded into the Netcare 911 ambulance and he was transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

NSRI commend the close working cooperation between Netcare 911 and NSRI.

We also commend the local fishing community for their assistance on the scene.

Family of the injured man thanked all emergency services and the local fishing community involved in the operation and we have wished the patient a speedy recovery.

-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