National Sea Rescue Institute assists Filipino crewman, 70, out at sea

Two NSRI Durban rescue swimmers and two Netcare 911 rescue paramedics boarded a SA Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter to respond to rescue a 70-year-old Filipino crewman suffering a medical complaint and requiring patient evacuation to hospital, on Tuesday morning, 7 July.

NSRI Durban duty crew were placed on alert.

“The operation to patient evacuate the crewman from the ship was initiated on Monday morning while the motor vessel was deep-sea off the Eastern coastline and heading towards her nearest Port at Durban. In close cooperation between NSRI Durban, Netcare 911 ambulance services, MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), ShipMed and the Transnet National Ports Authority Port Captain it was decided to carry out an airborne patient evacuation at first light on Tuesday morning and the SA Air Force, 15 Squadron, was tasked,” said Jonathan Kellerman, NSRI Durban station commander.

On arrival at the ship, not too far from the Port of Durban, an NSRI rescue swimmer and the Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were hoisted from the helicopter onto the ships deck and a stokes basket stretcher was lowered onto the ships deck.

“The patient was secured into the stokes basket stretcher and accompanied by a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic he was hoisted into the helicopter followed by the NSRI rescue swimmer and the remaining Netcare 911 rescue paramedic. The patient, in a stable condition, was airlifted directly to a Durban hospital for further medical care. All Covid-19 precautions and protocols were observed during the operation,” said Kellerman.

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