The Indian Coast Guard on Friday (April 5) stated that it has rescued a Sri Lankan national affected by a critical heart condition onboard a drifting vessel, practically 100 nautical miles from Tamil Nadu’s Chennai and airlifted him to town for remedy. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of ICG had earlier obtained a misery alert from MRCC Colombo about Sri Lankan Fishing Vessel (SLFV) ‘Kalpeni’ that was suspected to be adrift at sea as a consequence of a snag within the engine.
According to the MRCC Colombo, the boat had set sail from ‘Codbay’ fishing harbour in Sri Lanka on March 22 with six crew members.
“The boat had ceased all communication from March 28. MRCC Colombo intimated that the boat was likely to have entered Indian waters due to prevailing wind and drift patterns,” a Defence launch stated.
It was sighted by an ICG ship on Tuesday about 40 Nautical Miles from Puducherry harbour.
An ICG technical crew boarded the Sri Lankan boat and tried to restore the engine, nevertheless, the efforts had been hampered by the dearth of spares.
While the Coast Guard ensured provide of necessities comparable to meals and water on the boat, Sri Lankan authorities had been intimated concerning the place of the vessel and had been requested to rearrange for a tow to take it again to base port, it stated.
The boat was stored below watch and the well being of the crew was routinely monitored by the Indian Coast Guard. On Friday, data was obtained that one of many members had developed shortness of breath and was “suspected to have a life threatening heart condition,” it stated.
“By this time, the boat had drifted to about 60 Nautical miles from Chennai. The Indian Coast Guard immediately launched its ship ICGS Rani Abakka towards the boat and the patient was evacuated within a few hours. Once on the ICG ship, the patient was given basic medical treatment. At the same time, an Advanced Light helicopter (ALH) was launched from Squadron based at Chennai,” it stated.
The chopper efficiently airlifted him from ICG ship deep at sea and he was delivered to Coast Guard air station in Chennai. After an preliminary medical examination, the 44 year-old man was taken for hospitalisation within the metropolis, the discharge added.
The Indian Coast Guard continues to be in shut communication with the drifting Sri Lankan boat in addition to Sri Lankan authorities in order that it may be towed again to base port on the earliest. ICG has been endeavor many such profitable medical evacuations from the deep sea within the latest previous, each on the east in addition to on the west coast of India, the discharge added.
(With PTI inputs)
