Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said: NSRI Durban duty crew and Netcare 911 ambulance services were placed on alert at 07h26, Tuesday, 5 April, to prepare to meet a motor vessel bulk carrier later in the day off-shore of the Port of Durban to patient evacuate 6 crewmen aboard the motor vessel suffering a medical condition.
Arrangements were being prepared by the ships agent following correspondence between MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Port Health authorities, Police Sea Borderline Control, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Durban duty controllers, Netcare 911 duty commanders and TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority).
At 15h00 our sea rescue craft Alec Rennie and Spirit of Surfski 6 were launched accompanied by 4 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics.
On arrival at the vessel, in unfavourable sea conditions with 3 meter swells, the rescue paramedics and NSRI rescue swimmers were transferred aboard the vessel.
Patients were medically assessed by the paramedics and advanced medical treatment was initiated.
In a challenging rescue technical transfer operation 5 of the patients, in stable conditions, were transferred off the motor vessel onto our sea rescue craft using life-jackets, protective gear and safety lines and 1 patient, in a serious but stable condition, secured into a Stokes basket stretcher, was transferred onto our sea rescue craft.
In the care of the paramedics they were brought to our NSRI Durban rescue base and all were transported to hospital in Netcare 911 ambulances.
The 5 adult Filipino patients and 1 adult Mozambican patient, in the care of doctors and nurses in hospital, are expected to make full recoveries.
The transfer operation on the scene took just over 3 hours and the operation was completed and closed at around 20h00.
Our NSRI crew, the Netcare 911 paramedics and the ships crew are commended for the successful operation under trying conditions.
