Filipino Seafarer Evacuated Off Cargo Vessel Near Durban

A seamless maritime medical evacuation was carried out on Saturday, just off the coast of Durban, South Africa, as a Filipino seafarer was urgently retrieved from a cargo vessel due to a severe injury. Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, reported that the National Sea Rescue Institute of Durban was alerted to the medical emergency in the morning, preparing for a rendezvous with the incoming bulk carrier.

The patient, a 43-year-old male from the Philippines, had sustained an injury onboard, necessitating immediate medical attention. A Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) doctor had remotely assessed the injury via communications with the ship's medical team, declaring the need for evacuation.

The NSRI Durban rescue crew, alongside their Maritime Extrication (MEX) specialists and a Netcare 911 paramedic, assembled hours ahead at the NSRI Durban Station 5 rescue base. Their rescue vessel, "Alick Rennie," launched at 8:13 PM to meet the carrier, which was anchored about 4 nautical miles from the Port of Durban.

Calm seas facilitated the smooth transfer of the rescue team onto the bulk carrier, where they conducted an urgent medical assessment. The man's condition was pronounced serious yet stable, warranting his immobilization in a Stokes basket stretcher for extrication via a high-angle technical rope system set up collaboratively by the ship’s crew and NSRI MEX technicians.

Successfully hoisted onto the deck of the Alick Rennie, the casualty was in the professional hands of both NSRI medics and the attending Netcare 911 paramedic. The patient was then transported securely back to the NSRI rescue base and subsequently to hospital by a Netcare 911 ambulance service.

The coordinated rescue involved various agencies, including the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Port of Durban, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Sea Borderline Control, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, and the ship's agent. Their joint efforts, led by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), played a pivotal role in the timely evacuation, concluding the operation by 9:56 PM.

The injured seafarer's prognosis looks optimistic, with expectations for a full recovery. This incident highlights the efficiency and readiness of South Africa's maritime rescue operations, which stand vigilant to safeguard the well-being of all mariners in their waters.