Table Bay – A medical evacuation operation at sea

At 20h20, Saturday, 18 April, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were alerted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) following a request from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to prepare for a medical evacuation operation.

At 20h20, Saturday, 18 April, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were alerted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) following a request from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to prepare for a medical evacuation operation.

A motor vessel oil tanker was en route towards Durban, offshore south of Agulhas. The vessel had turned around following communications with a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor to return to Table Bay for a medical evacuation operation to have a 23 year old male crewman patient, with an illness, transported to hospital.

At 00h10, Sunday, 19 April, our NSRI rescue craft DHL Deliverer was launched, accompanied by two WC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics and NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew.

We rendezvoused with the motor vessel 15 nautical miles offshore, in two to three meter swells and a 20 knot North Westerly wind.

Our NSRI MEX crewman was transferred onboard the vessel and in cooperation with the ships medical crew the patient, in a stable condition - walking wounded - was transferred onto our rescue vessel and taken into the care of the EMS rescue paramedics.

The patient was brought to our NSRI Table Bay Station 3 rescue base and transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition.

The patient is expected to make a full recovery.

The operation completed at 03h15.