Injured fisherman medically evacuated at sea

NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated Sunday following a request for medical assistance from a local fishing vessel reporting a crewman onboard seriously injured in a fall onboard the fishing vessel.

At that stage they were offshore of Maitlands and were making best speed towards the Port of Port Elizabeth.

The NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha responded reaching the fishing vessel 20 nautical miles from the Port of Port Elizabeth offshore of Schoenmakerskop in fair sea conditions but dense fog.

An NSRI medic boarded the vessel finding the 41 year old local fisherman in the good care of the vessels medical crew.

EC Government Health EMS were alerted.

The patient was transferred onto our rescue craft without incident and we brought him to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base where the patient was taken into the care of EMS paramedics and in a serious but stable condition the patient was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance.

The patient is in the care of doctors and nurses in hospital and he is expected to make a full recovery.  

The fishing vessel has returned to the Port of Port Elizabeth.

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 and EC Government Health EMS assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the maritime medical emergency evacuation operation.