A 61 year-old Filipino crew member on a ship sailing to Singapore collapsed and died from an apparent heart attack yesterday 3 August 2013.
Despite the NSRI Port Elizabeth and medical teams racing to the scene to give medical treatment and evacuate him, the man could not be saved.
Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said at 6. 24 pm NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority to go to the 225 meter bulk carrier Amarantha, sailing from South America to Singapore. It was reported that Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was being conducted on a crew member on board.
The vessel reported the incident to MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) which in turn instructed the ship to head towards the closest port, Port Elizabeth, while MRCC activated an immediate medical rescue operation.
“Our NSRI duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Eikos Rescuer IV, accompanied by a Relay EMS paramedic, to respond rapidly and our sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft was also launched. On arrival the paramedic and NSRI rescue crew were transferred onto the ship but sadly the crew man was confirmed to be deceased.
“It appears that the cause of death may have been from a heart attack. The body of the deceased man was brought to shore and handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police,” Gray added.
(edited)
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