The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) evacuated a seriously injured 30-year-old Filipino seafarer from a cargo ship 12 nautical miles off Cape Town after a challenging medical rescue at sea, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The 229-metre vessel, travelling towards Singapore, diverted towards Table Bay to facilitate the evacuation. The rescue took place on Saturday, 17 October, amid difficult sea conditions.
NSRI Table Bay crews launched two rescue craft with specialist Maritime Extrication (MEX) crew. Rescuers encountered swells of between 2.5 and three metres, occasionally exceeding five metres.
According to station commander Quentin Botha, ‘The Master of the ship manoeuvred his ship to create a lee against the running sea swells for our rescue craft to come alongside the ship.’
Two specialist rescuers boarded the vessel and worked with its crew to secure the injured man in a Bauman Bag stretcher. He was then hoisted onto a rescue craft using a technical high-angle extraction system.
NSRI medics cared for the seafarer during the journey to shore before emergency medical services paramedics took over.
The man was transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition and is recovering. Botha commended the ship’s crew for their assistance during what the NSRI described as a challenging maritime medical evacuation.
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Picture: NSRI
