NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following a request from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to evacuate an ill crewman from a salvage motor vessel, south of Port Edward on Thursday morning this week.

At the time the vessel was deep sea off-shore north of Port St Johns.

A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor had medically evaluated the patient, in communications with the vessel’s skipper and medical crew, and it was deemed necessary to dispatch medical care to the patient as soon as possible.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) assisted MRCC in the coordination and logistics of the operation.

Gert du Plessis, NSRI Port Edward station commander said that NSRI Shelly Beach was activated and dispatched additional crew, and a Med-Evac paramedic responded, to Port Edward.

“Our NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Steve was launched, with NSRI Port Edward crew, NSRI Shelly Beach crew and with the Med-Evac paramedic.”

He says on arrival at the vessel, 32 nautical miles south of Port Edward, approximately 10 nautical miles off-shore of Port Grosvenor, Eastern Cape coastline, the patient, a 19 year old male crewman, from the Free State, in a stable condition (walking wounded), was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and into the care of the Med-Evac paramedic.

“A colleague, a 23 year old Johannesburg crewman, was transferred onto our NSRI rescue craft. He accompanied his colleague.”

NSRI commends the skipper and crew of the motor vessel for their assistance during the transfer.

“We bid farewell to the skipper and crew of the motor vessel and we returned to Port Edward without incident and with the patient remaining in a stable condition. During the operation we encountered plenty of sea life, especially dolphins, that accompanied our NSRI rescue craft.”

The patient, in a stable condition, was collected at the NSRI station 32 Port Edward rescue base by colleagues and he remained in a stable condition to be seen to by a doctor for further care.

NSRI commends the cooperation of all involved in this operation.

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