NSRI evacuates man from bulk carrier
Aurban Air Sea Rescue team went to the aid of a Filipino man after he suffered a heart attack on board the bulk carrier MV Skelt just 20 miles off Durban on Sunday.
SEA Rescue Durban put its Air Sea rescue team on standby on Friday afternoon to evacuate a 59-year-old Filipino man from the bulk carrier MV Skelt just 20 miles off Durban.
The man, who worked as the ship’s chief cook, was treated for a myocardial infarction (heart attack) by the ships crew with advice from a local doctor. It was decided to wait for the MV Skelt to get closer to Durban before sending a rescue team to evacuate him.
At 4.50am on Sunday 25 September an a15 Squadron Oryx lifted off with a crew of pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer from the airforce, two NSRI rescue swimmers and two paramedics from Netcare 911.
The Oryx landed on the 180 meter ship approximately 20 nautical miles off Durban at 5am. The man was carried onto the helicopter and flown to St Augustines Hospital. He was later transferred to Entabeni Private hospital in a stable condition.
