Justin Erasmus, NSRI Port Elizabeth deputy station commander, said; “At 18h19 on Sunday 22 August 2011, our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following a request for medical assistance from the bulk carrier GLOBAL COMMANDER reporting a 49 year old Chinese male crewman onboard suffering abdominal pains suspected to be appendicitis and the ship reporting to be 30 nautical miles off-shore of Port Elizabeth.
“The Transnet National Ports Authority Port Captain ordered the ship to begin a heading towards the Port Elizabeth Bay and we launched our sea rescue craft EIKOS RESCUER IV in 4 to 5 meter rough sea swells and rendezvoused with the ship 4.5 nautical miles from the Port of Port Elizabeth.
“On arrival on-scene our sea rescue medic found the patient to be stable suffering abdominal pain suspected to be related to the ill seaman’s appendix. He was taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought to our sea rescue base where the ships agent transported the sailor to hospital for further evaluation and treatment.”
