NSRI Durban completes maritime medevac 4 nautical miles offshore

Four nautical miles off the Port of Durban, NSRI Durban crew carried out a maritime medical evacuation on Saturday, 26 September, bringing an injured seafarer safely ashore for further treatment.

On Saturday morning, 26 September, NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted by shipping agents to a maritime medical evacuation for a 49-year-old Indian seafarer with a medical complaint, aboard a 300-metre bulk carrier approaching Durban.

At 14h00, NSRI Durban duty crew and Faith Med ambulance services attended at the NSRI Durban Station 5 rescue base, where the rescue craft Alick Rennie and Spirit of Surfski 6 were launched, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and Faith Med rescue paramedics.

The team rendezvoused with the motor vessel 4 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban, where an NSRI MEX crewman and a Faith Med rescue paramedic were transferred onto the vessel. They found the patient in a stable condition, in the care of the ship's medical crew.

The patient was secured into a safety line, protective gear, and a harness, and assisted down the pilot's ladder before being transferred onto the rescue craft, followed by the rescue crew.

In the care of the paramedics, the patient was brought to the NSRI rescue base and transported to hospital by Faith Med ambulance in a stable condition. The operation was completed at 16h31.

NSRI Durban station commander Etienne van Zyl commended the coordinated response, noting that the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), NSRI Durban duty controllers, Faith Med ambulance services control, ShipMed medical services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA Port Health, the SA Police Service Police Sea Borderline Control, and the ship's agent all assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of this successful maritime medical evacuation operation.