Patient evacuation operations off vessels at sea - Durban and in the South Cape

NSRI Durban and Stillbaai evacuates ill crewman off vessels at sea

DURBAN

Tim Edwards, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said:

At 22h16, Wednesday, 28 July, NSRI Durban duty crew and Netcare 911 ambulance services were placed on alert to prepare for the medical evacuation of a 33 year old Filipino crewman, suffering a medical condition, from a bulk carrier motor vessel approaching Durban.

On Thursday 29 July, at 22h11, NSRI Durban duty crew, accompanied by 2 Netcare rescue paramedics, launched the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie and rendezvoused with the motor vessel approximately 8 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Durban.

On arrival at the vessel, in 1 to 2 meter swells, both Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were transferred on board the vessel using the pilot ladder.

The patient was medically assessed and he was transferred onto the sea rescue craft accompanied by the 2 rescue paramedics.

The patient was transported aboard our sea rescue craft, in the care of the rescue paramedics, to our NSRI Durban sea rescue base and he was transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance for further medical care and he is expected to make a full recovery.

NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, NSRI Durban duty controllers, Netcare 911 duty controllers, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Transnet National Ports Authority, Port Health Authorities and Police Sea Borderline Control assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre with coordination and logistics for this patient evacuation operation.

The operation completed at 23h43.

SOUTH CAPE:

Nadine Hansen, NSRI Stilbaai duty controller, said:

At 12h53, Friday, 30 July, NSRI Stilbaai duty crew were activated to patient evacuate an injured local fisherman from a fishing vessel 20 nautical miles off-shore of Stilbaai.

The sea rescue craft Breede Rescuer was launched and WC Government Health EMS were placed on alert.

On arrival at the vessel 2 NSRI medics were transferred onto the vessel and the patient was treated for his injuries.

Secured into a Stokes Basket stretcher the patient was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to our NSRI Stilbaai sea rescue base.

WC Government Health EMS control dispatched a Sozo private ambulance service ambulance and on their arrival the patient, in a serious but stable condition, was taken into the care of paramedics and he was transported to hospital in a Sozo ambulance.

The patient is expected to make a full recovery.

The operation completed at 15h41.