CETUS TIGER

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Freak wave injured four crew members

On Aug 7, 2019, at 09.20 a.m. the NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew, accompanied by a NSRI station doctor and EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics, launched aboard the "Spirit of Toft" to rendezvous with the "Cielo Di Palermo" which was approaching Port Elizabeth after four Filipino crewmen had suffered injuries when a wave broke over the vessel in the vicinity of Port Edward on Aug 6, so that the ship requested emergency medical assistance. The ships medical team were providing medical relief to the injured crew members, and NSRI Durban rescue crew were alerted. The bulkcarrier then proceeded towards East London where NSRI East London rescue crew were alerted but the decision was then made for the ship to proceed to Port Elizabeth where NSRI Port Elizabeth and EC Government EMS were on alert awaiting their arrival. Off Port Elizabeth, the NSRI transferred the medical team onto the ship and medical treatment to the casualties was continued. One man had suffered critical injuries with fractures to the jaw, hip, clavicle and a suspected neck fracture, one man suffered a fractured Femur and hip, one man suffered a fractured Tibia and one man sustained bruising to the head. In unfavourable sea conditions the decision was taken for the medical teams to continue treatment aboard the ship. and arrangements were made with the Transnet National Ports Authority for the bulkcarrier to enter the port. The patients were stabilised and on entering Port Elizabeth, NSRI rescue crew and additional medical teams assisted in ongoing medical care and transferring the patients on stretchers to ambulances. They have been transported to hospitals for further treatment by EMS ambulances in serious but stable conditions.