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Medical Evacuation From Motor Container Vessel

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Justin Erasmus, NSRI Gqeberha station commander, said: On Monday, 30 September, at 21h00, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI Gqeberha, station 6, were placed on alert to prepare to perform a medical evacuation of an injured patient from a motor container vessel on Tuesday morning.

The vessel was offshore of the Eastern Cape coastline, the former Transkei, at the time, and heading towards Gqeberha.

There were reported to be 2 patients onboard the motor container vessel. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were reportedly being conducted on one patient and the second patient had reportedly suffered serious injuries.

A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor was providing medical advice to the ships medical crew.

NSRI were informed by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) that the vessel was due to arrive at Algoa Bay at around 06h00 on Tuesday morning. This was changed during the early hours of Tuesday morning to 08h00.

On Tuesday, 1 October, at approximately 08h00, the NSRI rescue craft, Rescue 6, was launched, accompanied by an EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic and NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew.

The NSRI rescue craft rendezvoused with the motor container vessel in Algoa Bay, in challenging choppy sea conditions with strong winds, where NSRI MEX crew and the EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onto the motor container vessel.

The patient, in a serious but stable condition, was secured into a Baumann’s basket stretcher and transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft using a high angle technical extrication.

It appears that injuries to seafarers onboard the motor container vessel may have been sustained during rough sea conditions off the South African East Coast.

The rescue paramedic and NSRI crew were transferred safely back onboard the NSRI rescue craft.

The NSRI rescue craft returned to the NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base at midday where the patient, a 44 year old Filipino male, was then transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition by EMS ambulance.

A seafarer, age 32, a Filipino male, sadly deceased, was recovered from the vessel by a private launch, in the care of EMS and Police, and taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

An additional 2 patients, walking wounded, were transferred onto a private launch that had been arranged in advance, both adult males. Both reportedly in stable conditions.

Condolences are conveyed to the family and colleagues of the deceased man.

NSRI EOC, NSRI Gqeberha station 6 duty controllers, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and a Metro EMS duty doctor, EC Government Health EMS Metro Control, TNPA Port Health authority, Police Sea Borderline Control, the ship agent, and Telkom Maritime Radio Services, assisted MRCC in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.

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