By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, June 7:
The Indian Coast guard (ICG) on Sunday airlifted a South Korean national, who needed urgent medical attention from an oil tanker ship off the Goa Coast to a hospital near the state’s Dabolim airport.
The oil tanker ship named MT ELIM, sailing under the South Korean flag had left the Kandla port in Gujarat on June 03 and was heading to Mormugao Port, Goa coast, when it sent a message for help.
In a swift and coordinated rescue operation, Captain of MT ELIM, Yi Myong Bok, facing severe medical emergency was airlifted by the ICG’s Chetak helicopter, amid gusting winds.
The patient was brought ashore and shifted to V. M. Salgaocar Hospital (SMRC Hospital) at Chicalim in South Goa. His condition was described as stable, the Defence spokesman Commander Mehul Karnik said.
“On receipt of information at 0430 hours from Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai, that Yi Myong Bok, needed emergency medical evacuation from the vessel, an evacuation plan was drawn out at Coast Guard District Headquarters, Goa. At 0530 hours ICG ship C-158 sailed out from Goa, maintained continuous communication with “MT Elim” and periodically ascertained the condition of the patient.
For speedy evacuation of the patient, Coast Guard Chetak helicopter was launched from the Coast Guard Air Enclave CGAE (Goa) at 1100 hrs. The helicopter reached the vessel at 1150 hours and winched up the patient with the help of an aircrew diver at 1205 hours. Successful execution resulting in the saving of precious life reiterates the faith of seafarers in the ICG, which always lives up to its motto “Vayam Rakshamah”, Commander Karnik added.
