PICS: Medics, NSRI team up for Durban port rescue
A national sea rescue team and KZN paramedics have worked together to bring ashore a 47-year-old sailor who had fallen ill - off the port of Durban.
Netcare 911 paramedics were yesterday alerted to a medical emergency on a carrier ship that was at least 50 nautical miles - that's at least 90km - off the harbour.
Netcare 911's Shawn Herbst says a military oryx helicopter was used to reach the coal carrying vessel.
"On arrival at the scene, the aircraft commander circled the vessel to determine safe placement and evacuation. The flight engineered and skillfully hoisted a Netcare911 rescue official and an NSRI swimmer down to assess the patient and to determine there are any other health risks. Once cleared, two advance life paramedics were then lowered onto the ship.
"They immediately began to stabilise the patient on the deck before he was hoisted up into the helicopter via a specialised stretcher. The entire operation, from start to finish, took about 90 minutes," he says.
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The man - a Philippines national - was then rushed to a Durban hospital for further care.
