Durban — An injured seafarer had to be medically evacuated off a ship over the weekend in Durban.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Durban duty coxswain Clifford Ireland said that at about 9am on Saturday, July 13, NSRI Durban received notification of a pending medical evacuation due to be carried out from a bulk carrier motor vessel heading towards Durban from the deep sea.
Ireland said that at the time, the motor vessel was about 100 nautical miles from Durban and was due to arrive offshore of the Port of Durban at 9pm.
He said the Filipino man, aged 43, was reported to be suffering an injury sustained on board the vessel.
Ireland said a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor had evaluated the injury, in communications with the ship’s medical crew, and it was deemed necessary to medically evacuate the patient off the ship to be taken to a hospital as soon as possible.
The NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), NSRI Durban duty controllers, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Port of Durban Port Control, the SAPS, Sea Borderline Control, Netcare 911 duty controllers, TNPA Port of Durban Health authorities, WC Government Health EMS, Telkom Maritime Radio Services and the ship’s agent assisted the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in the logistics and the co-ordination of the medical evacuation operation.
“Our NSRI Durban duty rescue crew, NSRI Durban MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic assembled at our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base at 7.30pm and we launched the NSRI Durban rescue vessel Alick Rennie at 8.13pm and rendezvoused with the motor vessel approximately 4 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban,” Ireland said.
He said NSRI MEX technicians and the Netcare 911 rescue paramedic were transferred onto the motor vessel to assess the casualty.
He also said sea conditions were calm.
Additionally, Telkom Maritime Radio Services assisted VHF marine communications.
“Following the medical assessment on board it was determined that the casualty would be extricated and secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, as he was unable to walk on his own due to his injury. He was in a serious but stable condition and in good care,” Ireland explained.
“A high-angle technical rope extrication system was established on board the motor vessel, assisted by the ship’s crew, and the casualty was safely hoisted, secured into the Stokes basket stretcher, onto the deck of the Alick Rennie and into the care of our NSRI deck rescue crew.
“In the care of the Netcare 911 rescue paramedic, assisted by our NSRI medics, the patient was brought safely to our NSRI rescue base and he was transported to hospital by a Netcare 911 ambulance. He remained in a serious but stable condition.”
Ireland added that the operation concluded at 9.56pm.
“The man is expected to make a full recovery,” Ireland said.
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