Publications
During the early hours of yesterday morning, January 24, NSRI Gqeberha evacuated an 87-year-old British woman from a cruise liner heading towards the Bay from the deep sea.
According to NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander, Jonathan Tufts, the woman was suffering a medical complaint and the rescue operation started at 01:30.
The sea rescue craft, Spirit of Toft was launched, accompanied by the EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics, and rendezvoused with the vessel between 12 and 15 nautical miles off-shore in 45 knot winds and rough seas.
"An EMS rescue paramedic and two NSRI rescue swimmers were transferred onto the vessel. The woman had been stabilised by the ship's medical team. She was secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and in a high angle rope technical rescue operation, she was transferred onto the NSRI rescue craft," Tufts said.
She was brought to the NSRI Gqeberha rescue station, transferred into an EMS ambulance and transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition. The patient was not accompanied by any family or friends.
The NSRI has commended the assistance of the cruise liner crew and her medical team and wished the patient a speedy recovery.
