NSRI – STATION 19, Richards Bay
Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said:
At 15h00, Sunday, 22 February, NSRI Richards Bay were alerted by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), following reports from MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), of a bulk carrier motor vessel, expected to be arriving at Richards Bay on Tuesday, and for NSRI to prepare for a medical evacuation operation on her arrival.
The vessel remained in communications with MRCC and a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor who monitored the patient, a 57 year old Filipino male, with a medical condition, in cooperation with the ships medical crew, while the vessel made her way towards Richards Bay, from last Port of call – Chittagong.
NSRI Richards Bay and NSRI EOC remained briefed by MRCC of the ships progress.
On Tuesday, 24 February, at 07h14, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated.
The NSRI rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched, accompanied by an NSRI rescue paramedic and by NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew.
We rendezvoused with the bulk carrier motor vessel 8 nautical miles offshore of the Port of Richards Bay in 1 to 2 meter sea swells and 15 to 30 knot North Easterly winds.
The NSRI rescue paramedic and an NSRI MEX crewman were transferred onboard.
The patient, in a serious but stable condition, secured into personal protective gear and safety lines, was transferred onto our rescue craft.
In the care of our paramedic the patient was brought to our NSRI Richards Bay station 19 rescue base and he was transported to hospital by MedCare 24 ambulance.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), NSRI Richards Bay duty controllers and NSRI Richards Bay operations, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control, MedCare 24 ambulance services, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Richards Bay Port Control, TNPA Port Health Authority, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, SA Police Services Sea Borderline Control and the ships agent, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the coordination and logistics of this medical evacuation operation.
