Fisherman recovering in hospital after medical episode at St Francis Bay
· The South African
A 53-year-old fisherman is in a serious but stable condition after collapsing onboard a chokka fishing vessel off the coast of St Francis Bay in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
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According to Louwrens Bezuidenhout, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) was alerted at 06:06 following a request for urgent medical assistance from the vessel’s skipper.
Emergency at sea
The crewman had collapsed and was unconscious while the vessel was about 1.7 nautical miles offshore, heading towards Port St Francis.
NSRI Station 21 crews were activated and began preparing to launch a rescue craft, while Rapid Emergency Medical Services (REMS) paramedics were also mobilised.
As the patient’s condition worsened, the skipper made the call to head for shore at full speed.
Life-saving intervention
Once the vessel docked at Port St Francis, NSRI medics boarded and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the unresponsive fisherman.
They were joined shortly after by REMS paramedics, and following sustained resuscitation efforts, a pulse and spontaneous breathing were successfully restored.
Stable but serious
The patient was transported to hospital in a critical condition. He has since stabilised under medical care, though he remains in a serious condition.
There are positive indications that he will recover, and he is expected to be transferred to a specialised medical facility in Gqeberha for further treatment.
Praise for coordinated response
Bezuidenhout commended the skipper and crew for their swift actions in getting the patient to shore, as well as the coordinated efforts of NSRI crews, paramedics, and hospital staff.
“Our thoughts are with the patient, his family and colleagues during this difficult time,” he said.
The incident highlights the importance of rapid response and teamwork in medical emergencies at sea.
Meanwhile, earlier this month the NSRI confirmed that an American tourist was missing at Cape Point. At the time of publishing no update has been provided.