– Edited by Bev Mortimer- NSRI volunteer Gqeberha/PE volunteer, Station 6 crew members successfully evacuated an ill Filipino seaman from a bulk carrier 200 nautical miles offshore of Durban.
Mark Dawson, NSRI Gqeberha duty coxswain, said on Monday evening this week, NSRI Station 6 Gqeberha and EC Government Health EMS were alerted to prepare for a medical evacuation of an ill Filipino seaman, aged 24, on a bulk carrier motor boat. The carrier was instructed to sail toward s Algoa Bay/PE.
NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Transnet National Ports Authority) Port Elizabeth Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, SAPS Sea Borderline Control, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor and EC Government Health EMS duty controllers all assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.
An EMS duty doctor, assisted by MRCC and Telkom Maritime Radio Services, monitored the patient’s condition and rendered medical advice to the ship’s medical crew during the carrier’s trip to Algoa Bay.
At 5.30 pm, yesterday evening, the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched, accompanied by an EMS rescue paramedic, and arrived at the bulk carrier 14 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth in calm sea conditions.
Two NSRI Marine Extrication crew and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onboard the motor vessel.
The patient, in a stable condition, was secured into a Stokes basket stretcher assisted by the ships crew and the NSRI crew rigged an extrication device. During a high angle extrication the patient was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft followed by the NSRI and EMS team.
The patient was brought to NSRI Station 6 Gqeberha rescue base and then transported by ambulance and paramedics to hospital where he is expected to fully recover. The operation was completed at 9.51 pm.
