Saved sailor recovers in hospital
ABritish national is recovering at Suva’s MIOT Pacific Hospital after being rescued in waters near Kadavu on Saturday, thanks to the efforts of the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
Peter Watson said last night that even though he was tired, he was thankful for the effort and service accorded to him by the rescue and medical teams.
“They took good care of me and were really friendly,” he said.
On Saturday, the centre co-ordinated a medical rescue after receiving a call from the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ).
It was regarding a serious medical condition on board the motor yacht Grey Wolf, which was approximately 140 nautical miles south-west of Vunisea, Fiji Navy Maritime chief Commander Ledua Yaco said yesterday.
The yacht had three people on board.
They were travelling from Denarau to New Zealand.
“At 8.57am the co-ordination centre was able to establish communication with the yacht on the condition of the casualty, who was said to be suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding,” Cmdr Yaco said.
The UK-registered yacht was diverted to Kadavu to enable the medical evacuation to be carried out.
The co-ordination centre continued to communicate with the vessel every hour until it arrived at Kokomo Resort at 1am yesterday.
“The casualty, a British national, was transferred to the Kokomo Resort dispensary and was airlifted out to Suva at 7.30am via helicopter,” Commander Yaco said.