Quentin Botha, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said:
At 19h56, Monday, 23 March, NSRI Table Bay duty crew were alerted by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to prepare to launch following a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor’s medical evaluation of an ill 59 year old crewman, from the Hellenic Republic, and the duty doctor requesting the patient evacuation of the crewman suffering a medical emergency off a bulk carrier as soon as possible.
The bulk carrier had departed Table Bay earlier and 22 nautical miles South East of Cape Point the alarm was raised and the bulk carrier turned around to head back towards Table Bay.
The sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom launched at 23h30 accompanied by 2 WC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics and an NSRI doctor.
We rendezvoused with the ship 8 nautical miles from the Port of Table Bay.
2 NSRI rescue swimmers and a EMS rescue paramedic boarded the ship and medical treatment that was applied stabilised the patient who remained in a serious but stable condition and he was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and into the care of the doctor and the second paramedic.
The NSRI rescue swimmers and the EMS rescue paramedic re-boarded our sea rescue craft and on arrival at our sea rescue station the man was taken into the care of Netcare 911 paramedics and he was transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance for further medical care.
NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, WC Government Health EMS, Transnet Port Health Authorities and Transnet National Ports Authority assisted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in coordination, communication and logistics during the operation.
