NSRI Durban: A maritime medical evacuation operation

Etienne van Zyl, NSRI Durban station commander, said: On Tuesday, 23 June, at 08h40, NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted by shipping agents requesting a medical evacuation of a 41-year-old Filipino male seafarer, suffering an emergency medical condition, onboard a 229 metre bulk carrier motor vessel approaching towards Durban from deep sea and the operation scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) were alerted.

On Wednesday our NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie launched at 11h18, accompanied by 2 Faith Med rescue paramedics and NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew.

We rendezvoused with the motor vessel offshore of Durban in sea conditions of 1.8 to 2 metre swells and 15-knot winds.

An NSRI Maritime Extrication (MEX) technician and a Faith Med rescue paramedic were transferred onboard the vessel where, in cooperation with the ships medical crew, medical treatment was provided to the patient, found to be in a serious condition and requiring urgent evacuation to hospital.

The decision was made to deploy additional NSRI MEX crew onto the vessel to assist to establish a technical high angle rope rescue basket stretcher system for the extraction.
The bulk carrier's Master expertly maneuvered the vessel to create a sheltered lee, providing calm conditions, against the sea swells, alongside for our rescue craft, for the technical transfer to take place.

In a technical high angle operation, the patient was transferred from the vessel onto our rescue craft, followed by the rescue crew, and he was brought safely to shore in the care of the rescue paramedics.

On arrival at our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base the patient was transported to hospital by Faith Med ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

The operation was completed successfully through the commendable coordinated efforts of the motor vessel's Master and his crew, the Faith Med rescue paramedics, our NSRI Durban duty controllers, NSRI Durban rescue team and NSRI Durban MEX technicians.

Operations were completed at 13h13.

In hospital, in the care of doctors and nurses, the patient continues to receive emergency medical care and he is expected to make a full recovery.

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