Spaniard with chest pain arlifted by heicopter off ship

Two NSRI rescue swimmers and a Netcare 911 paramedic were hoisted from a helicopter onto a ship at sea  to stabilise a Spanish seaman suspected of having a heart attack yesterday.

The patient was then transferred to a Port Elizabeth hospital by helicopter and is exected to make a full recovery.

According to Ian Gray of NSRI Port Elizabeth at 6 am ( 5 December 2012),  NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following a request for medical assistance from the South African registered 79-foot stern trawler Echalar in deep seas South of St Francis Bay. The crew reported a 45 year-old Spanish crewman to be suffering severe chest pain.

“Our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew went on alert and NSRI St Francis Bay were also placed on alert while a Government EMS duty doctor spoke to the ships Captain and the decision was taken for an immediate medical evacuation based on the information received which gave the impression that the patient may be suffering from a heart attack.

“The Transnet National Ports Authority authorised an immediate helicopter rescue operation to be launched. At  8.02 am an SA Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron Charlie flight BK-119 helicopter, accompanied by an Air Force pilot, an Air Force flight engineer, the two NSRI rescue swimmers and the Netcare 911 paramedic, responded from the Port Elizabeth Air Force Base.

On arrival on-scene, at 8,32 am in rough sea conditions, 20 nautical miles south of St Francis Bay (60 nautical miles South from Port Elizabeth), the Spaniard was transferred into a Netcare 911 ambulance and transported to hospital in a stable condition. Doctors have confirmed  the patient has pneumonia of the right lung and he was not suffering a heart attack. 

The ship has continued to fishing grounds at sea.

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(edited)