Filipino Seaman Evacuated

Paul Bevis, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said: At 18h30, Sunday, 26 July, NSRI Durban duty crew and Faith Med ambulance services were alerted to prepare for a maritime medical evacuation operation, expected at first light on Monday morning, for a seafarer injured on a cargo motor vessel.

In communications with NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) reported that the vessel was heading towards Durban.

A Shipmed medical services doctor had evaluated the patients conditioning deeming it necessary for the 49 year old Filipino male to be transferred to hospital on their arrival offshore of Durban.

Preparations were made to carry out the medical evacuation operation at first light on Monday morning while Shipmed Medical Services continued to communicate with the ships medical crew referring ongoing medical treatment to the injured casualty.

At 05h00, Monday, 27 July, our NSRI Durban duty crew and Faith Med ambulance services rescue paramedics gathered at our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base where our rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched, accompanied by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and by Faith Med rescue paramedics.

A Faith Med ambulance stood by at our NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base to transport the casualty to hospital on the return of the rescue vessel.

We rendezvoused with the motor vessel 9 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Durban in uncomfortable choppy sea conditions with 2 to 2.5 meter sea swells. The Master of the motor vessel manoeuvred his ship to create a lee against the sea swells for our rescue craft to come alongside where our MEX crew and a Faith Med rescue paramedic were transferred onboard the motor vessel where the patient, in a serious but stable condition, was secured into personal protective gear, a rescue harness and lifejacket.

In cooperation with the ships crew, in a technical high angle operation, the patient was transferred onto our rescue craft, followed by the rescue crew.

In the care of the Faith Med paramedics the patient was brought to our NSRI rescue base and he was transported to hospital, in a serious but stable condition, by Faith Med ambulance.

The operation was completed at 09H04.

In hospital, in the care of doctors and nurses, the patient is expected to make a full recovery.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Durban duty controllers, Faith Med EMS duty controllers, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA Port Health, Shipmed medical services, SA Police Services Sea Borderline Control and the ships agent, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and the coordination of this successful maritime medical evacuation operation.