3 injured off Durban coast, emergency services jump into action
The crew members were injured while deep-sea passing around the Durban coastline.
THREE Filipino crew members were airlifted from their vessel after sustaining serious injuries on board.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) assisted the crew members, who were injured during normal ship operations, while deep-sea passing around the Durban coastline onboard a motor container vessel.
“One man, in a serious but stable condition, was airlifted to hospital by a Netcare 911 helicopter and the remaining two men, one in a serious but stable condition and one in a stable condition, were transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance,” said Paul Bevis, NSRI Durban duty coxswain.
Bevis said NSRI Durban duty crew and Netcare 911 ambulance services were activated at 21:31 on Tuesday, 8 June for the early morning arrival of the crew on Wednesday, 9 June.
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“NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Netcare 911 duty controllers, NSRI Durban duty controllers, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, Transnet National Ports Authority and Port Health Authorities assisted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre with logistics and coordination of this patient evacuation operation,” he said.
“The casualty vessel put to anchor off-shore of the Port of Durban and the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched at 02:40 accompanied by 3 Netcare 911 rescue paramedics,” added Bevis.
He explained that the initial plan was to leave the rescue paramedics on the vessel to treat the patients on board and then evacuate the casualties off the vessel at first light.
“On arrival at the vessel, in calm seas and rapidly improving sea conditions, the rescue paramedics and NSRI rescue swimmers were transferred onto the vessel and the patients, two in serious conditions, were stabilised and in a technical rope high angle operation, all three were transferred onto the sea rescue craft. Two patients secured into Stokes basket stretchers,” he said.
“A Netcare 911 HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) helicopter and Netcare 911 ambulance were dispatched to stand-by at our sea rescue station,” added Bevis.
The injured crew members were taken to the NSRI Durban sea rescue station in the care of the rescue paramedics. The operation completed at 06:05
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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