Edited: A Chinese man on board a ship 8 nautical miles off Gqeberha/PE in South Africa, had to be evacuated and rushed to hospital for emergency treatment this past weekend.
The daring rescue was carried out by the NSRI sea rescue organisation in Gqeberha in the early hours of 24 July in challenging challenging sea conditions with 3 to 4 meter sea swells.
Simon Williams, NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander, related that the 24 year-old seaman suffered an injury (particulars not revealed), on board the ship heading for Algoa Bay and the NSRI was alerted at 4.15 am .
The volunteer NSRI duty crew launched their rescue craft, Rescue 6 Alpha, and were accompanied by NSRI Maritime Extrication (MEX) crew and an EMS rescue paramedic. They headed to the ship, acting in communications with NSRI (Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), EC Government Health EMS Metro Control, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and an EMS duty doctor. An EMS ambulance stood by at at the NSRI base.
On reaching the motor vessel the NSRI MEX crewman and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onboard the vessel and the patient was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft in a stable condition, then secured into personal protective gear, a harness and safety lines.
Under care by the EMS paramedic the Chinese patient was brought to to the NSRI, and then transported by EMS ambulance to hospital where he was said to be recovering in the care of doctors and nurses. The operation was completed at 06h41.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, TNPA Port Health, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and an EMS duty doctor, EC Government Health EMS Metro Control, Police Sea Borderline Control and the shipping agents, assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of this successful maritime medical evacuation operation.
- Note: Heading edited. No offence intended
St Francis Chronicle 