ILL INDIAN SAILOR WINCHED FROM BULK CARRIER AT HAY POINT
September 5, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ILL INDIAN SAILOR WINCHED FROM BULK CARRIER AT HAY POINT
RACQ CQ Rescue winched a seriously ill foreign sailor off a bulk carrier anchored at Hay Point on Saturday.
The 51-year-old Indian sailor from the vessel MV Darya Moti was suffering a serious cardiac condition upon the ship’s arrival in Australian waters early Saturday. The vessel, which departed China on August 16, proceeded to anchor at Hay Point about 30km south of Mackay.
The rescue chopper was tasked by Queensland Health about 10.30am and, with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, arrived on scene within 10 minutes of take off from the Mackay airport. The aircraft crew quickly made radio contact with the ship to make plans for the patient’s safe retrieval and transport to medical care.
The helideck on board the bulk carrier wasn’t rated heavy enough to land the five-tonne rescue aircraft, which meant the patient needed to be winched off the ship. After further discussion with the crew and several orbits of the carrier, a rescue crewman and paramedic both completed a ‘hover exit’ of the aircraft; they exited the chopper as it hovered less than a metre above the ship’s helideck.
The rescue helicopter medical team took about 10 minutes to assess and secure the patient into a harness. After more radio contact between the team and the aircraft, the ill sailor was accompanied by the paramedic as he was winched up from the ship’s deck into the aircraft hovering about 20 metres above.
The rescue crewman then followed up into the helicopter and the patient was flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.
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An Indian sailor from the bulk carrier MV Darya Moti was winched by RACQ CQ Rescue on Saturday and flown to hospital.
Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.
For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182