NSRI Gqeberha volunteers carried out a complex maritime medical evacuation on Monday, 20 July, bringing a seriously ill seafarer safely to hospital.

NSRI completes maritime medevac 10 nautical miles off Algoa Bay.

At 06h15 on Monday, 20 July, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew launched the rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, responding to a bulk carrier motor vessel offshore in Algoa Bay to carry out a maritime medical evacuation.

Arrangements had been made in cooperation with the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, and a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, to evacuate a 37-year-old Filipino seafarer suffering from a medical condition aboard the vessel.

The crew rendezvoused with the vessel 10 nautical miles offshore in Algoa Bay, where an NSRI MEX crewman was transferred onto the ship. The patient, in a stable condition and able to walk, was secured into protective gear and transferred onto the rescue craft.

Once in the care of the EMS paramedic, an evaluation showed the patient's condition to be more serious than first assessed. He received medical care throughout the journey back and was brought to the NSRI Gqeberha Station 6 rescue base, where he was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition for further treatment.

He is currently in the care of doctors and nurses in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The operation was completed by 08h18.

NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander Simon Williams commended the coordinated response, noting that the NSRI EOC, NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA Port Control, TNPA Port Health, WC and EC Government Health EMS Metro Control, an EMS duty doctor, Police Sea Borderline Control and the shipping agents all assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the operation.