NSRI bases were placed on alert yesterday (Thursday) following reports of a (non Covid-19 related case) of a British man (58) suffering a medical condition, and requiring medical evacuation off the Queen Mary 2.

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NSRI bases along the East Coast, namely Durban, Shelly Beach, Port Edward and East London were placed on high alert to be on stand-by during the helicopter patient evacuation operation.

Jonathan Kellerman, NSRI Durban station commander, said a Western Cape Government Health EMS duty doctor had spoken to the ship’s medical team and it was deemed necessary for the patient to be evacuated to a hospital.

At that stage, the ship was about 20 nautical miles off Morgans Bay on the Transkei coastline, and after investigating options, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRRC) re-routed her to Durban.

An SA Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter, NSRI Durban rescue swimmers and a Netcare 911 ambulance services rescue paramedical team were activated to prepare for the rescue operation 216 nautical miles South West of Durban.

At about 9.36pm, they arrived at the ship in challenging conditions –  25 knot North Easterly winds gusting to 34 knots and two meter swells.

A NSRI rescue swimmer and two Netcare 911 rescue paramedics were hoisted onto the Queen Mary 2.

They received the patient from the ship’s medical crew and he was airlifted in a stable condition to a hospital in Durban.

TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE

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