Dramatic NSRI rescue of seriously hurt trawler fisherman

A fisherman who suffered a partial amputation of his left leg in an accident at sea, has been evacuated from a trawler at Simon’s Town in False Bay and taken to hospital in a serious condition, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said yesterday.

NSRI Simon’s Town station commander Darren Zimmerman said crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority at about 9.10pm on Saturday, following a request for immediate medical assistance from the fishing trawler Atlantic Hope.

The trawler reported it was 40 nautical miles southeast of Cape Point with a crewman on board who had suffered a partial amputation of his left leg in an accident while hauling fishing nets.

The fishing vessel was heading towards Simon’s Town while the ship’s crew treated the injured fisherman on board, who was reported to be fully conscious.

The sea rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III, accompanied by NSRI paramedics and a Cape Medical Response (CMR) paramedic, was launched.

The NSRI Air Sea Rescue and the SA Air Force 22 Squadron were placed on high alert.

“With rough sea conditions the NSRI rescue craft rendezvoused with the fishing vessel in the relative shelter of Buffels Bay, Cape Point, where paramedics were put on board the fishing vessel and treatment was administered to the 25-year-old Mossel Bay fisherman,” Zimmerman said.

His left leg was partially amputated

Paramedics were put on board the vessel to treat the injured man. Darren Zimmerman NSRI commander Simon’s Town

below the knee.

“Treatment continued aboard the fishing vessel which continued towards the Simon’s Town naval dockyard, escorted by our sea rescue craft.

“Once in Simon’s Town the patient was transferred onto the sea rescue craft and brought to shore. He was transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable, but serious condition and will undergo surgery,” Zimmerman said. – ANA