Patient evacuated from a cruise ship in Table Bay

On Tuesday, 10 January, at 04h10, NSRI Table Bay duty crew and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad were activated to prepare to launch to evacuate an injured passenger from a cruise ship returning to Table Bay.

The cruise vessel had departed from the Port of Table Bay earlier. An 80- year old Cape Town female passenger reportedly suffered a fall while onboard sustaining serious injuries while off-shore North of Saldanha Bay.

She was attended to and stabilised by the ships medical team.

MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) were alerted by the cruise liner. A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor evaluated the patient's condition in cooperation with the ship's doctor and it was decided that immediate evacuation to the hospital was necessary.

Just after midnight, MRCC requested NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) to place NSRI Table Bay and NSRI Mykonos duty crews on alert while Metro EMS Control placed EMS rescue paramedics on alert.

In correspondence with the ship's agent it was decided for the vessel to return to Table Bay.

NSRI Table Bay duty crew, aboard the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 3, accompanied by 2 EMS rescue paramedics, rendezvoused with the vessel at anchorage off-shore of Green Point.

The patient was secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and in the care of the EMS rescue paramedics she was brought to our NSRI Table Bay rescue station and transported to a hospital in a serious but stable condition by EMS ambulance, accompanied by a family member.

The cooperation and care of all involved in the maritime medical emergency is commended.