A 41-year-old Filipino seafarer is recovering in hospital after being rescued from a bulk carrier off the Durban coast during a complex maritime medical evacuation coordinated by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
The operation unfolded on Wednesday after the crew member developed a serious medical condition while aboard the 229-metre vessel en route to the Port of Durban.
NSRI Durban station commander Etienne van Zyl said the organisation was first alerted on Tuesday morning after shipping agents requested an emergency evacuation.
“On Tuesday, 23 June, at 08h40, NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted by shipping agents requesting a medical evacuation of a 41-year-old Filipino male seafarer suffering from an emergency medical condition on board a 229-metre bulk carrier motor vessel approaching Durban from deep sea,” Van Zyl said.
The NSRI Emergency Operations Centre and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre began coordinating the response ahead of the rescue.
On Wednesday morning, the NSRI rescue craft, Alick Rennie, launched from Durban with two Faith Med rescue paramedics and specialist Maritime Extrication (MEX) technicians on board.
The rescue team intercepted the vessel offshore in swells of up to two metres and winds of about 15 knots.
After boarding the ship, an NSRI Maritime Extrication technician and a Faith Med paramedic assessed the patient alongside the vessel’s medical crew.
“The patient was found to be in a serious condition and requiring urgent evacuation to hospital,” Van Zyl said.
Due to the challenges posed by the height of the bulk carrier, additional MEX personnel were deployed to establish a high-angle rope rescue system capable of safely lowering the patient to the rescue craft.
Van Zyl praised the vessel’s captain for helping create the safest possible conditions for the delicate transfer.
“The bulk carrier’s Master expertly manoeuvred the vessel to create a sheltered lee, providing calm conditions against the sea swells alongside for our rescue craft for the technical transfer to take place.”
Using a rescue basket stretcher, crews successfully lowered the seafarer onto the waiting rescue vessel before transporting him to the NSRI’s Durban Station 5 base.
From there, he was taken by Faith Med ambulance to hospital.
“On arrival at our NSRI Durban Station 5 rescue base, the patient was transported to hospital by Faith Med ambulance in a serious but stable condition,” Van Zyl said.
The rescue operation concluded shortly after 1pm. The seafarer remains under the care of doctors and nurses and is expected to make a full recovery.
Van Zyl credited the successful outcome to the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, including the ship’s crew, Faith Med EMS, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Transnet National Ports Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Port Health authorities, SA Police Service Sea Borderline Control and the vessel’s shipping agents.
