NSRI Gqeberha Rescues Greek Seafarer off Gqeberha Coast

Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said: On Tuesday evening, 28 October, at 18h00, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were placed on alert to prepare for the medical evacuation of a 40 year old male Greek seafarer from a motor vessel bulk carrier.

The seaman, suffering a medical condition, was reported to be in a stable condition, in the care of the ships medical crew.

The vessel was expected to be offshore of Gqeberha at around 07h00 on Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday morning, 29 October, at  07h00, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew, accompanied by an NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crewman and an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, launched the NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian and rendezvoused with the motor vessel in Algoa Bay, 12 nautical miles offshore.

The NSRI MEX crewman and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onto the bulk carrier where the patient was assessed by the paramedic.

In a stable condition, walking wounded, the patient was secured into protective gear and a safety line and transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft.

In the care of the EMS rescue paramedic the patient was brought to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance for further medical care where he is recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.

The operation was completed at 10h30.

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