FV IRON MAIDEN

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Medevac off Saldanha Bay

On May 20, 2016, at 09.30 oa.m. the SA Air Force 22 Squadron, NSRI ASR (Air Sea Rescue) and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad were placed on alert following a request for medical assistance made by a ships agent to MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre). The captain of the "Iron Maiden" had suffered a suspected heart attack. A Western Cape Government EMS duty doctor had medically evaluated the patients condition, in communications with the crew of the vessel, and it was deemed appropriate to render assistance at the earliest opportunity. The vessel, sailing from Brazil to Cape Town, was approximately 200 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Colombine, on the West Coast, when the alarm was raised. At that stage they were out of range of an immediate rescue operation and MRCC instructed the crew of Iron Maiden to make best possible speed towards Saldanha Bay while medical advice on the treatment of the patient was communicated to the crew by the EMS duty doctor. An SA Air Force 22 Squadron helicopter was tasked to carry out a rescue operation. NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI Mykonos were all placed on alert. At 07.40 a.m. on May 21, an SAAF 22 Squadron Lynx helicopter were airborne and they rendezvoused with the fishing trawler 106 nautical miles from Ysterplaat Air Force Base, off Saldanha Bay. The NSRI ASR rescue swimmer Ernesta Swanepoel and EMS rescue paramedic Shakira Hartley were hoisted onto the vessel from the helicopter and they found the patient to be in a stable condition, showing signs and symptoms of an MI (Myocardial Infarction) and medical treatment was initiated. The patient, a 42 year old man from Massachusetts, was hoisted into the helicopter safely and he was transported aboard the helicopter to Ysterplaat Air Force Base and then to hospital by EMS ambulance. The operation was completed by 09.40 a.m. The operation was the first sea rescue patient medical evacuation conducted by a Lynx helicopter in the history of the South African Air Force. Report with photos: http://www.nsri.org.za/2016/05/injured-paddler-rescued-three-anchor-bay-helicopter-patient-medical-evacuation-off-a-fishing-trawler-deep-sea-west-coast/