Jacques Kruger, NSRI Durban duty coxswain, said: On Thursday, 13 March, NSRI Durban duty crew were alerted by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to prepare for a medical evacuation of a patient, a female age 71, suffering a medical condition onboard a cruise liner, due to arrive offshore of the Port of Durban on Friday.
On Friday, at midday, NSRI Durban duty crew and Red Line ambulance services convened at the NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Alick Rennie was launched.
We rendezvoused with the vessel offshore of the Port of Durban.
Our NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crew and a Red Line rescue paramedic were transferred onto the vessel.
The patient, in the care of the ships medical staff, was found to be in a stable condition and it was decided to let the ship enter the Port of Durban where the patient could be taken into the care of Red Line paramedics once berthed in Port.
No further assistance was required and later the ship entered the Port of Durban and the patient was transported to hospital by Red Line ambulance for further medical treatment where the patient is recovering.
NSRI Durban duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Durban Port Control, Port Health Authorities, A WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Red Line ambulance services and Police Sea Borderline Control, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and coordination of this operation.
On Thursday evening, 12 March, NSRI Durban and NSRI Umhlanga joined the Police and the emergency services preparing for the heavy rainfall that was forecast (on Tuesday night) by SAWS (South African Weather services) with heavy rainfalls anticipated for Thursday night.
A JOCC (Joint Operations Command Centre), established by DRM (Disaster Risk Management) and local Municipal authorities, coordinated emergency response activations to emergency incidents during Thursday nights heavy downpour.
NSRI rescue swimmers and NSRI crew, based in their communities, prepared to assist locally while NSRI rescue swimmers and NSRI crew stood by at the NSRI Durban station 5 rescue base prepared to respond to emergencies in cooperation with Police and the emergency services.
NSRI are aware of a number of incidents that were attended to by response teams but NSRI are not aware of any fatalities or serious injuries.
NSRI commend the vast community preparedness and support, and the cooperation between the emergency services, during the heavy rainfall.
By around 01h00 on Friday morning the worst of the heavy rainfalls subsided and NSRI crew returned to their homes.
We are appealing to the public to not cross over low lying bridges compromised by flood waters and do not try to cross through flooded motorways or rivers under flooding conditions during heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
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