Patient evacuated to hospital from the Bos 400 wreck in Cape Town

On Wednesday 1 February, NSRI Bakoven were alerted following reports of a person injured at the Bos 400 wreck at Maori Bay, between Llandudno and Hout Bay.

While preparing to launch the NSRI Bakoven rescue craft NSRI Hout Bay duty crew, who had earlier launched to assist NSRI Kommetjie at a sinking fishing vessel, were activated to assist at the Boss 400.

On NSRI Hout Bay's rescue craft Albie Matthews arriving at the Bos 400 NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to the shore.

A 19 year old male was found by NSRI medics to have been recovered onto rocks by friends and he had sustained injuries reportedly in a fall or a dive off the Bos 400 wreck.

Medical treatment was commenced.

WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and an EMS ambulance were activated to respond to the NSRI Hout Bay rescue station.

The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was not available as they were committed on an inland operation.

The NSRI Hout Bay rescue craft Nadine Gordimer responded from Hout Bay, accompanied by EMS rescue paramedics.

EMS rescue paramedics and additional NSRI rescue crew were transferred ashore accompanied an NSRI Rescue Croc (specialised floating stretcher).

The patient was stabilised and secured into a specialised stretcher and secured into the Croc and floated to an NSRI rescue craft.

He was brought to the NSRI Hout Bay rescue station and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition.

The local casualty and 3 fellow University students were visiting the Bos 400 and it is estimated that at least 30 people were at the Bos 400 on the day.

NSRI CEO Dr. Cleeve Robertson has appealed to the public to avoid the Bos 400 wreck. Most of the wreck lies submerged just below the surface under the crane boom which, added to the considerable height, makes jumping into the water a potential suicide mission. There have already been serious injuries at the site and our greatest concern is that the next jumper may be fatally injured. The wreck should not be boarded and the site is not safe to jump into the water, said Dr. Robertson.