Successful dual medical evacuations by NSRI Mossel Bay: A triumph of teamwork and coordination

On the morning of Friday, 12 July, the NSRI Station 15 in Mossel Bay undertook two critical medical evacuation operations, showcasing exceptional coordination and dedication.

These operations were vital in ensuring the health and safety of two seafarers facing serious medical emergencies aboard their respective vessels.

The night preceding the operations was marked by urgent calls and swift preparations. At 20:14 on Thursday, 11 July, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) alerted NSRI Mossel Bay about a 54-year-old Filipino seafarer on a container motor vessel (Vessel A) who required immediate medical attention. Evaluated by a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, it was clear the seafarer needed hospital care. At the time, Vessel A was approximately 84 nautical miles from Mossel Bay and redirected towards the port.

Shortly thereafter, at 01:24 on Friday, 12 July, another call came in. A ship's agent reported a 49-year-old Syrian seafarer had been injured aboard another container motor vessel (Vessel B). This vessel, initially bound for Cape Town, was diverted to Mossel Bay for the medical evacuation, with the patient in a serious but stable condition.

“I got into bed to be fresh in the morning. I'm not sure when I finally got to sleep, but at 01:24, I was awakened by the second call. I saw the call was another medical extrication,” shared Andre Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay duty coxswain.

At first light on Friday, the NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew,the NSRI Maritime Extrication (MEX) crew and the Police Sea Borderline Control, set off from the NSRI Mossel Bay rescue base. The rescue crafts, Spirit of Safmarine III and St Blaise Rescuer, departed at 07:28, equipped and ready for the complex operations ahead.

Rescue of the Priority Patient

According to Andre, the first mission was to attend to the priority patient from Vessel B. Upon reaching the vessel offshore of Mossel Bay, the NSRI MEX crew and rescue paramedics boarded the ship. They stabilised the injured Syrian seafarer and secured him in a Bowman bag stretcher for a high-angle technical rescue. The patient was carefully hoisted onto the rescue craft and brought ashore, where a Frontier Medix ambulance was on standby to transport him to the hospital. He arrived in a stable condition, thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of the rescue teams.

Following the successful evacuation from Vessel B, the NSRI team promptly re-launched their rescue craft to reach Vessel A. The Filipino seafarer with a medical complaint was transferred to the rescue craft as a walking wounded patient. He, too, was brought ashore and transported to the hospital by an ER24 ambulance, also in stable condition.

Andre added, “Both our patients recovered well and were released from the hospital the following day. The perfect and most successful operations are always the most rewarding for volunteers who give their precious time to saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures.”

- Herman Eloff