Richards Bay: Teenager medically evacuated off a cruise liner

Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said: At 01h33, Tuesday, 5 March, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following a request to medically evacuate an 18 year old male from a cruise ship heading towards Richards Bay.

The vessel was due to arrive off-shore of Richards Bay at 02h30.

It appears that the vessel, that departed Durban earlier, heading towards Mozambique, had reached in the vicinity of the Tugela River Mouth – following communications facilitated by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), between the ships doctor and the WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, had agreed transport to hospital as soon as possible was recommended for the patient who was suffering an injury that had been sustained onboard.

The NSRI Richards Bay rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched and we rendezvoused with the vessel 7 nautical miles off-shore of the Port of Richards Bay in 2 to 3 meter swells and a 40 knot gusting North Easterly wind.

The vessel manoeuvred to provide a lee from the wind for access to the Port hatch.

An NSRI MEX (Maritime Extrication) crewman was transferred onto the vessel and assisted the teenager, believed to be from Johannesburg, onto our rescue craft.

In the care of NSRI medics and accompanied by a member of his travel group, he was brought to our NSRI station 19 rescue base where we were met by a Netcare 911 ambulance.

The patient was transported to hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance in a stable condition.

NSRI Richards Bay duty controllers, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre), TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Richards Bay Port Control, a WC Government Health EMS duty doctor, Netcare 911 duty controllers and Telkom Maritime Radio Services, in cooperation with the ship agent, assisted MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), in the logistics and coordination of the medical evacuation operation.