Medical evacuation of a seafarer from a ship

A seafarer suffering a medical emergency evacuated at sea to hospital.

Roy Wienand, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said:

On Saturday evening, 17 May, NSRI Durban duty crew were placed on alert to prepare for a medical evacuation operation expected to take place early on Sunday morning.

A 32 year old male Indian seafarer onboard a container motor vessel - heading up the eastern coastline in the direction of Durban - was presenting with a serious medical condition and would need to be evacuated to a hospital as soon as possible.

A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor was providing medical advice to the ships medical crew in cooperation with WC EMS Metro Control and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), assisted by Telkom Maritime Radio Services

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Durban duty controllers, WC Government Health EMS, Red Line ambulance services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, the Port Health Authority, Police Sea Borderline Control and Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, 18 May, NSRI Durban duty crew were notified that the container motor vessel was expected to be offshore of the Port of Durban earlier than expected after the vessel had made good progress up the Eastern Cape coastline during the night.

Accompanied by a Red Line rescue technician our NSRI Durban station 5 duty crew launched our NSRI rescue craft Alec Rennie at 06h55 and rendezvoused with the motor vessel 6 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban in calm seas with a light wind.

NSRI MEX crew (Maritime Extrication crew) and the Red Line rescue technician were transferred onto the motor vessel.

The patient, in a serious condition, in the care of his ships medical crew was handed into the care of the rescue tech and NSRI Durban MEX crew.

Assisted by the ships medical crew our NSRI MEX crew and the Red Line rescue tech secured the patient into a Stokes basket stretcher.

A high angle extrication was prepared, and the patient was transferred onto our rescue craft. Our crew and the patients' belongings followed.

The ship's crew were commended for their assistance.

In the care of the Red Line paramedic the patient was brought to our NSRI rescue base and he has been transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition by Red Line ambulance.

The patient is expected to make a full recovery.