A 47-year-old seaman who was experiencing a medical emergency on board the Panamanian registered bulk carrier, 50 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Durban, was rescued on Tuesday morning by a multi agency team.
Shawn Herbst from Netcare 911 said paramedics together with crew from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 5, boarded a Military Oryx helicopter led by a flight crew from the South African Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron based in Durban, and departed for the sunrise rescue mission.
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“On arrival the SAAF Flight Engineer skilfully hoisted a rescue technician and NSRI rescue swimmer as well as two Netcare 911 advanced life support paramedics onto the ship where they immediately began to stabilise the patient on the deck of the 300m coal carrying vessel,” said Herbst.
He said the crew then prepared the patient for evacuation using a specialised stretcher that was hoisted back up into the helicopter.
“The patient was flown to a Durban hospital for further specialist care,” said Herbst.
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