Today, Saturday 26 June 2010, two SA Air Force Oryx helicopters have been tasked to respond to a sailor suffering fractured ribs 100 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Town.
The NSRI Air Sea Rescue unit (NSRI ASR) and Metro paramedics are responding, aboard two Air Force Oryx helicopters, 100 nautical miles off Cape Town, to casualty evacuate a patient suspected to be suffering fractured ribs aboard the bulk carrier Proud.
The rescue team were alerted at 00h10 today.
The bulk carrier was 400 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Town when they requested medical assistance at 00h10 this morning. The ship was advised to head towards Cape Town and they are expected to be 100 nautical miles off-shore at around 13h00 today, in range for this rescue operation.
It is not yet known what caused the sailor to sustain fractured ribs.
Two Oryx helicopters from the South African Air Force (SAAF) 22 Squadron, from Air Force Base Ysterplaat, are tasked to lift off at approximately midday today on the rescue mission which is expected to take approximately two hours.
The Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services duty doctor has relayed medical advice to the ships medical crew to stabilize the patient pending the arrival of the rescue team.
The patient is believed to be in a stable but serious condition.
Each helicopter comprises 2 SAAF rescue pilots, a SAAF engineer, 2 NSRI rescue swimmers and a Metro paramedic.
It has not yet been decided to which hospital the patient will be airlifted to.
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