Andre Fraser, NSRI Port Elizabeth deputy station commander, said; “At 01h01 on Tuesday 23 August 2011, our NSRI Mossel Bay volunteer duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for medical assistance from the 20 meter local fishing trawler NIMO reporting a 71 year old male crewman onboard suffering a fractured arm, sustained by deck gear that had allegedly collapsed onto the fisherman, while fishing at fishing grounds 30 nautical miles off-shore of Mossel Bay.
“The trawler had begun heading towards Mossel Bay and we launched our sea rescue craft VODACOM RESCUER in a calm sea state and making good headway, accompanied by a Metro EMS rescue paramedic, we rendezvoused with NIMO at 03h17 13 nautical nautical miles off-shore of Mossel Bay.
“On arrival on-scene an NSRI rescuer and the Metro EMS rescue paramedic were transferred onto the fishing trawler and the patient was found to be in a stable but serious condition suffering a fractured left arm and contusions to the head and upper back.
“Treatment was initiated by the Metro EMS rescue paramedic and the patient was stabilized and secured into a Stokes basket stretcher and transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought to our sea rescue base, arriving at 04h30 where he was transferred into a Metro EMS ambulance and transported to hospital for further treatment.
“The fishing trawler has come in to dock in Port.”
