Filipino man medically evacuated from bulk carrier near Gqeberha

A Filipino seaman, suffering a medical condition on a bulk carrier motor vessel, was evacuated on Tuesday.

On Monday evening NSRI Station 6 Gqeberha and EC Government Health EMS were alerted to prepare for a medical evacuation - Tuesday 21 November - at sea for a Filipino seaman, age 24, suffering a medical condition on a bulk carrier motor vessel.

The vessel, at that stage, was 200 nautical miles off-shore of Durban and had been instructed to head towards Algoa Bay.

NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port Elizabeth Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, SA Police Services (SAPS) Sea Borderline Control, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor and EC Government Health EMS duty controllers assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.

An EMS duty doctor, with communications assisted by MRCC and Telkom Maritime Radio Services, monitored the patients condition and rendered medical advice to the ships medical crew during the motor vessels transit from deep sea towards Algoa Bay.

At 17h30, on Tuesday, the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched, accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic, and rendezvoused with the bulk carrier 14 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth in calm sea conditions.

Communications continued to be assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services, NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers and TNPA Port Elizabeth Port Control.

2 NSRI MEX (Marine Extrication) crew and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onboard the motor vessel.

The patient, in a stable condition, was secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, while assisted by the ships crew, our NSRI MEX crew rigged an extrication device.

During a high angle extrication the patient was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft followed by the NSRI and EMS team.

The patient was brought to our NSRI Station 6 Gqeberha rescue base and the patient was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition in the care of paramedics for further care and he is expected to make a full recovery.

The operation was completed at 21h51.