Gqeberha: No injuries after a boat capsized and a medical evacuation operation at sea

At 09h35, Saturday, 11 April, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a boat capsized in the surf zone offshore of Sundays River Mouth.

At 09h35, Saturday, 11 April, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a boat capsized in the surf zone offshore of Sundays River Mouth.

Our NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched while our NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI rescue craft JetRIB, CWR (Coastal Water Rescue) and EC Government Health EMS responded.

While responding to the scene local eyewitnesses confirmed that 3 local crew on a small fishing craft had come ashore and all were accounted for.

On arrival on the scene paramedics medically checked on 2 of the male crew finding them to not be injured while 1 local male crewman was reported to have been taken up Sundays River on a private boat and his fellow crew confirmed that he was not injured.

Their boat was recovered from the surf zone and no further assistance was required.

The eyewitness is commended for raising the alarm.

Earlier, On Saturday, at 07h16, our NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian was launched on a medical evacuation operation, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew  and EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics.

We rendezvoused with the motor cargo vessel 7.2 nautical miles offshore South of Cape Recife where an NSRI MEX crewman and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onboard.

With the assistance of the ships crew the injured male patient, age 36, from China, was transferred onto our rescue craft and in the care of the EMS paramedics he was brought to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

The patient is remains in the care of doctors and nurses in hospital.

The operation completed at 09h24.

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 in the logistics and coordination of the maritime medical evacuation operation.