St Francis Bay – Wednesday, 18 March. A fisherman is recovering in hospital following a critical medical episode:
Louwrens Bezuidenhout, NSRI St Francis Bay deputy station commander, said: At 06h06, Tuesday, 17 March, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated following a request for urgent medical assistance from the skipper of a local chokka fishing boat reporting a crewman onboard collapsed unconscious.
Our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI St Francis Bay station 21 rescue base to prepare to launch our NSRI rescue craft and REMS (Rapid Emergency Medical Services) were activated.
At that stage the vessel was approximately 1.7 nautical miles offshore and heading towards Port St Francis when the skipper indicated that his crewman’s condition had deteriorated and he was motoring at best speed to come into Port.
On the vessel entering Port St Francis and mooring at the quayside NSRI medics boarded the vessel where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced on the local 53 year old fisherman.
NSRI medics were joined by REMS paramedics and following extensive CPR efforts a pulse and spontaneous breathing was restored.
In a critical condition the patient was transported to hospital by REMS ambulance.
In hospital, in the care of doctors and nurses, the patients condition has stabilised and although the patient remains in a serious condition there are indications that he will recover.
The patient is due to be transferred to a hospital specialised unit in Gqeberha.
Our thoughts and care are with the patient, his family and colleagues, in this difficult time.
NSRI commend the skipper and crew of the chokka fishing vessel for their quick actions in bringing the patient to shore and the extensive efforts of our NSRI St Francis Bay crew, REMS ambulance services and hospital staff for their care of the patient.
