NSRI Responds to Medical Emergency on Fishing Vessel South of Cape Point

Phillip Fouche, NSRI Simonstown deputy station commander, said: At 17h20, Friday, 13 September, NSRI Simonstown duty crew were activated following reports from Telkom Maritime Radio Services of a medical emergency on a fishing vessel South of Cape Point.

The fishing vessel were 2 hours South Cape Point and heading towards Simonstown.

A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, facilitated by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), had evaluated the patient in communications with the ship's crew and it was decided to activate a medical evacuation operation for the adult male crewman who had collapsed onboard reportedly with a medical condition.

Our NSRI Simonstown rescue craft Donna Nicholas was launched, accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic, and we rendezvoused with the vessel between 2 and 4 nautical miles South of Cape Point.

The EMS rescue paramedic and 2 NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew were transferred onto the vessel where medical treatment was commenced.

The local adult male patient, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and, in the care of the EMS rescue paramedic, the patient was brought to our NSRI Simonstown station 10 rescue base where he was transported to hospital by Hout Bay volunteer EMS ambulance in a stable condition for further treatment.

Our rescue base was closed at 21h50.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Simonstown duty controllers, TMNP (Transnet National Ports Authority), WC Government Health EMS, Telkom Maritime Radio Services and Hout Bay volunteer EMS, assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.