NSRI Durban Responds to Offshore Medical Emergency

Teamwork, professionalism and seamless coordination led to another successful maritime medical evacuation off the coast of Durban on Sunday morning, where a seafarer in need of urgent medical care was safely brought ashore and transported to hospital.

On Sunday, 28 June, NSRI Durban Station 5 successfully conducted a medical evacuation of a 33-year-old Indian seafarer from a tanker vessel approximately 6 nautical miles off the Port of Durban.

After the patient's condition had been monitored throughout the week by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and ShipMed Medical Services, his condition deteriorated on Saturday afternoon, prompting an urgent evacuation.

At first light on Sunday morning, the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie launched with NSRI Maritime Extrication (MEX) crew and Faith Med EMS rescue paramedics on board. Despite choppy sea conditions with 2-metre swells, the rescue team safely transferred a paramedic and MEX crew member onto the vessel before securing the patient in a rescue harness and lifejacket for transfer to the rescue craft.

The patient was safely brought ashore to NSRI Durban Station 5, where a Faith Med ambulance was waiting to transport him to hospital. He arrived in a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

This successful operation was the result of exceptional cooperation between MRCC, NSRI Durban, Faith Med EMS, TNPA Port of Durban, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Port Health, ShipMed Medical Services, SAPS Sea Borderline Control, the ship's agent and the vessel's crew.

A heartfelt thank you to every volunteer, paramedic and partner agency whose dedication and teamwork ensured another life was safely brought ashore.

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