Ewald Bonzet, NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) duty controller, said: At 11h38, Sunday, 10 November, a 22 Squadron SAAF (SA Air Force) Oryx helicopter was prepared for a medical evacuation of a German tourist suffering a medical emergency from a cruise liner off-shore of Cape Agulhas.
NSRI Agulhas was placed on alert.
The Air Force helicopter, accompanied by 3 NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) rescue swimmers and a WC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic, rendezvoused with the ship 20 nautical offshore of Cape Agulhas.
On arrival at the vessel an NSRI ASR rescue swimmer and the EMS rescue paramedic were hoisted onto the vessel.
The patient had been secured by ships medical staff and after being loaded into a stretcher the patient, in a serious condition, was hoisted into the helicopter followed by the 2 rescue crew.
The patient was airlifted to Ysterplaat Air Force Base where ER24 ambulance services, Life Healthcare response paramedics and Taurus Medical were in attendance.
The patient, age 72, was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a serious but stable condition.
NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), SAAF (SA Air Force) Command, SAAF Ysterplaat Air Force Base controllers, NSRI ASR (Airborne Sea Rescue) duty controllers, NSRI Agulhas duty controllers, WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and an EMS duty doctor, Telkom Maritime Radio Services, Police Sea Borderline Control, TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Table Bay Port Control and the shipping agent, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) in the logistics and coordination of the SAAF helicopter medical evacuation operation.
alley frog
Fun South African Fact: South Africa’s natural and human fossil history dates back hundreds of thousands, even millions, of years. Early dinosaur fossils have been discovered in the Western Cape and up to 80% of mammalian fossils found so far have been discovered in the Karoo.
Racy Lady
Van, startled, spins around and answers the rep, \”It\’s my donkey\’s ears. When they walk under the highway their ears rub along the roof and hurt them. I\’m making it taller so that doesn\’t happen\”.
The rep looking confused, because it\’s a dirt track that runs under the bridge, asks him, \”Why don\’t you grade or dig some of the soil to lower the surface so they can pass through without their ears touching?\”
Van – no the one looking confused then angry answers, \”No man, it\’s their ears that are too long, not their legs!\”