Kerala: Amidst challenging weather conditions, a mid-sea medical evacuation of an ill mariner was carried out by the Indian Coast Guard on Monday. According to officials, the coast guard evacuated a sailor who was suffering from a suspected stroke and partial paralysis, from a private tanker off the Kerala coast. The coast guard used the indigenously built Advance Light Helicopter (ALH) MK-III for the evacuation operation. The Coast Guard further said that on Sunday it received information about the distressed crew member, identified as Pradeep Das through the Centro Internazionale Radio Medic (CIRM), Italy.
"India Coast Guard evacuated a critically ill Indian mariner from MT Global Star around 110 Miles NW of # Kochi. The 37 years patient suffered a stroke with partial paralysis & required urgent evacuation. The operation was undertaken mid-sea in extreme weather conditions," said the ICG.
The ill sailor required medical evacuation at the earliest
In a statement, the coast guard informed that the CIRM had informed that the mariner onboard the Motor Tanker Global Star was suffering from a suspected stroke, high blood pressure and partial paralysis on the left side and required medical evacuation at the earliest.
How the operation was carried out?
Subsequently, the Maritime Rescue sub-centre (MRSC) at Kochi was tasked with coordinating the operation and it established communication with the vessel to provide telemedical assistance and plan the evacuation of the distressed mariner.
"Understanding the vulnerability of the situation, rough seas, and prevailing weather conditions, Coast Guard ALH was launched on July 24 morning in medical configuration to carry out mid-sea medical evacuation 112 nautical miles in sea from Kochi.
Task carried out amidst challenging weather
"Amidst challenging weather, rough sea, heavy rain, and poor visibility, the professional pilots of ICG aircraft reached MT Global Star in the shortest possible time and successfully evacuated the distressed mariner," the statement said.
The sailor was medically managed onboard the ALH enroute to Kochi and on arrival at the port city was transferred to the Gautam Hospital for further medical management, it said.
"#SAR In a daring ops amidst challenging weather @IndiaCoastGuard indigenous #ALHsaved another mariners life at sea onboard MT GLOBALSTAR 110Nm fm #Kochi. The rescue ops was coordinated by #MRCCKochi in coordination with CG Air Enclave, #Nedumbassery & #ICGSArnvesh," PRO Defence Kochi tweeted.
The tanker was en route from Khorfakkan in UAE to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and during its journey, the vessel developed a technical snag on July 10 and was anchored 52 miles west of Kozhikode, the statement said.
(with inputs from PTI)
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