According to an article published in IOL, five crewmen aboard a heavy lift vessel en route to Durban had to be airlifted to the hospital after they were injured during an accident on board.
What happened?
National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, said along with Netcare 911 ambulance and the South African Air Force, they were alerted to the incident about the vessel approaching Durban.
“A Brazilian adult male crewman suffered fatal injuries in the accident and on the ship’s captain requested the body of the deceased man remain on board the ship. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre had arranged a Western Cape government health emergency medical services duty doctor to provide medical advice to the ship’s medics while the ship diverted from deep-sea and headed towards Durban,“ he said.
Crew airlifted
Lambinon said a SAAF BK-117, 15 Squadron, Charlie Flight, the helicopter was tasked to respond to Durban from Port Elizabeth and a 2nd SAAF helicopter, a SAAF Oryx, 15 Squadron, helicopter, was made ready at Durban while the ship came closer to Durban.
“Just before 5 pm, the sea rescue craft Alick Rennie launched from our Durban Sea Rescue station, accompanied by a Netcare 911 rescue paramedic and an IPSS rescue paramedic, to respond towards the ship to stand-by on the scene. At 5:30 pm, the SAAF 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter, accompanied by two Netcare 911 rescue paramedics and an NSRI medic and the SAAF 15 Squadron, Charlie Flight, BK-117 helicopter, accompanied by two NSRI rescue swimmers, responded from Durban. On arrival on the scene, 28 nautical miles off-shore East of Durban, the SAAF Oryx helicopter landed on the ship’s helicopter pad,“ Lambinon said.
One member reported dead
He said the SAAF BK-117 helicopter and the sea rescue craft stood-by at the scene while Netcare 911 rescue paramedics and the NSRI medic took over care of the five patients from the ship’s medical crew and the patients were transferred into the Oryx helicopter.
Lambinon said medical treatment continued in the helicopter and the five patients; one in a critical condition and four in stable condition were airlifted to a hospital in Durban.
“On behalf of all services involved, we convey our condolences to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased man. It has been confirmed that all five patients are in stable conditions and they are recovering in hospital,“ he said.
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Source: IOL
