Medical evacuation operation at sea and a ski-boat assisted

At 13h45 on Saturday, 10 January, NSRI Durban duty controllers were alerted by a ship’s agent to an American-flagged heavy-lift motor vessel requesting a medical evacuation of a 58-year-old male Chief Engineer suffering from a cardiac condition.

While preparations, in cooperation with MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), assisted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), were in progress for the medical evacuation operation (that same evening), a second call was received on Saturday evening from a 19-foot ski-boat, north of Umhlanga, reporting engine failure and requesting assistance.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 was launched at 20h47 to assist the ski-boat.

While en route the ski-boat crew advised our NSRI Durban duty controllers that they had managed to start one motor, however the engine continued to cut out intermittently.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6 continued to respond to the casualty ski-boat and on arrival at her side, finding all crew onboard safe, we escorted her at slow speed, safely accompanying her to the Durban Marina.

On arrival at the Durban Marina our NSRI shore crew assisted the casualty crew in recovering the ski-boat onto her trailer and no further assistance was required.

During this time the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched, accompanied by Red Line Response rescue paramedics and by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew, and rendezvoused with the heavy-lift motor vessel at 23h05 - 4 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban.

One rescue paramedic and two NSRI MEX crew members were transferred aboard the vessel.

Following medical evaluation of the patient - the 58 year old American seafarer, suffering a medical condition, in a stable condition, was prepared to be transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft.

The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 6, having completed the ski-boat operation, relaunched and joined the medical evacuation operation.

The patient, secured into a harness, safety ropes and personal protective equipment, was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie without incident.  

In the care of the paramedics the patient was brought to our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base and he was transported to hospital, by Red Line Response ambulance, in a stable condition where he is recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.

The medical evacuation operation was completed at 01h30 on Sunday morning.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Durban duty controllers, Red Line Response duty controllers, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA Port Health, Shipmed medical services, SAPS Sea Borderline Control and the ships agent, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and the coordination of this medical evacuation operation.