Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay duty coxswain, said; “At 09h52 on Sunday 12 August, NSRI Table Bay and NSRI Mykonos volunteer sea rescue duty crews were placed on alert by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Center) to stand-by following reports of the 48 year old Chinese Captain of the 180 meter bulk carrier ship Maple Crystal requiring to be casualty evacuated off the ship suffering suspected Appendicitis. The vessel was 20 nautical miles off-shore of Saldanha Bay heading towards next port of call Durban and due to pass Cape town.
“A Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedical rescue team were also placed on alert.
“After it was decided that the closest rendezvous point would be off Cape Town our NSRI Table Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom at 12h35, accompanied by two EMS rescue paramedics, and responded and rendezvoused with the ship 13 nautical miles North West of Mouille Point Lighthouse in rough 4 to 5 meter swells.
“On arrival on-scene an EMS rescue paramedic and one of our NSRI rescuers were put aboard the ship to stabilize the patient, Mr. He Zongzheng, who was then transferred onto our sea rescue craft in a satisfactory condition (walking wounded) and he was brought to Port in Table Bay aboard our sea rescue craft and transferred into an EMS ambulance and transported to the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in a stable condition by the EMS ambulance for further medical assessment.”
