Indian Coast Guard and Navy coordinate long-range operation to bring explosion-hit crewman to GMC Bambolim for treatment
Critically injured Iranian fisherman receives emergency medical care en route to Goa Medical College after a mid-sea airlift operation.
PANAJI
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully carried out the medical evacuation of a critically injured Iranian fisherman about 1,500 kms west of the Indian coast on October 28.
A long-range naval helicopter later took off from Goa and evacuated the patient from the Coast Guard vessel, and he was shifted to Goa Medical College Hospital at Bambolim for further medical management.
The fisherman had sustained severe injuries to both eyes and a deep laceration on his right ear following an explosion during a fuel transfer onboard the Iranian fishing vessel Dhow Al-Owais.
The humanitarian operation began on October 28 when the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Chabahar informed MRCC Mumbai about the medical emergency onboard the vessel. The vessel with six crew members had encountered engine failure at high seas.
Post activating International Safety Net to alert all nearby vessels, MRCC Mumbai diverted MT STI Grace, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, while ICG ship Sachet, which was returning from an overseas deployment to East African countries, was also diverted simultaneously to render immediate assistance.
MT STI Grace, being closer to the Iranian vessel, took the patient onboard for initial medical aid with ICG telemedicine support. ICG ship Sachet successfully carried out the medical evacuation of the critically injured fisherman amidst turbulent sea conditions in the Arabian Sea from MT STI Grace.
The medical condition of the injured Iranian fisherman was monitored round the clock during the passage, and he was administered the required medical management onboard the ship to stabilise his vitals.
As the medical condition of the patient deteriorated on the night of October 29, it was decided to airlift the patient from the ICG ship with assistance from the Indian Navy.
A long-range naval helicopter took off from Goa and evacuated the patient from Sachet at sea about 180 km off Goa. The Indian Navy helicopter landed with the injured Iranian national at about 12 am on Thursday.
The patient was later shifted to GMC Hospital, Bambolim, for further medical management. The evacuation witnessed wide support from all the State agencies for the humanitarian cause.
