Paul Bevis, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said:At 21h31, Tuesday, 8 June, NSRI Durban duty crew and Netcare 911 ambulance services were activated to prepare for an early Wednesday morning arrival of a motor container vessel with 3 Filipino crew who were injured onboard during normal ships operations while deep sea passing around the South African coastline.NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Netcare 911 duty controllers, NSRI Durban duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, Transnet National Ports Authority and Port Health Authorities assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre with logistics and coordination of this patient evacuation operation.The casualty vessel put to anchor off-shore of the Port of Durban and the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched at 02h40 accompanied by 3 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics.It was initially planned to leave the rescue paramedics on the vessel to treat the patients onboard and then evacuate the casualties off the vessel at first light.On arrival at the vessel, in calm seas and rapidly improving sea conditions, the rescue paramedics and NSRI rescue swimmers were transferred onto the vessel and the patients, 2 in serious conditions, were stabilised and in a technical rope high angle operation all 3 were transferred onto the sea rescue craft.2 patients secured into Stokes basket stretchers.A Netcare 911 HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) helicopter and Netcare 911 ambulance were dispatched to stand-by at our sea rescue station.They were brought to our NSRI Durban sea rescue station in the care of the rescue paramedics.One man, in a serious but stable condition, was airlifted to hospital by a Netcare 911 helicopter and the remaining two men, one in a serious but stable condition and one in a stable condition, were transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance.The operation completed at 06h05.
