Nighttime rescue mission for Richards Bay NSRI

Richards Bay NSRI Station 19 duty crew were on Wednesday night called on to assist with a medical evacuation of a seafarer.

The 33-year-old Egyptian seaman had suffered a medical complaint aboard a motor vessel approaching the Port of Richards Bay.

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The NSRI was activated by Transnet National Ports Authority on the request of the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC).

NSRI rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched at 9pm, and Medcare 24 stood by at the NSRI base.

Sea Rescue rendezvoused with the vessel 5 nautical miles offshore Richards Bay, and an NSRI maritime extrication crewman and rescue paramedic were transferred onto the ship where the patient was assessed and loaded into a Stokes basket stretcher.

He was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft and transported to the base.

He was then transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition for further medical care.

Richards Bay Mission to Seafarers Chaplain Mark Classen and his wife Eva assisted the patient with communication and logistics, and to establish contact with his family abroad.

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