PORT BLAIR: The Indian Coast Guard ship Rajkamal evacuated a 19-years-old Greek deck cadet from merchant vessel Hamburg on passage to Singapore in the early hours of Sunday. The crew member, identified as one Galanisathanasios, was reportedly suffering from severe pain in the lower right abdomen — suspected to be a severe case of appendicitis.
Commandant Dalip Singh, the public relations officer of Coast Guard A & N Region told the media, “Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre, (MRCC) Port Blair on receipt of request from Greek MV Hamburg for urgent medical evacuation, swung into action. Tele-medical advice was provided by the coast guard medical officer to the crew. Although, the vessel was in Sri Lankan SRR, it wanted to dock at Port Blair for medical evacuation.”
The vessel was directed to alter course and proceed towards Port Blair with maximum available speed. Simultaneously, Coast Guard ship Rajkamal sailed with a medical team to provide assistance.
The PRO said, “Despite the visibility being low and the sea, rough, the patient was successfully evacuated. The coast guard ship’s medical team administered the patient with basic first aid and stabilised the crew before entering Port Blair in early morning hours.” On completion of the handing/taking over formalities, M V Hamburg proceeded to the next port of call in Singapore.
Subsequently, the patient, who was in stable condition, was handed over to the local agent, Rathnam of M/s Andaman Holidays Pvt. Ltd., Port Blair and was immediately admitted to GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair for further medical treatment.
According to Coast Guard on an average 200 ships transit daily South of Campbell Bay.
Singh added, “Such cases of medical evacuation and assistance will go long way in projecting the saviour image of Indian Coast Guard and A&N Administration.
He added, “The improved-medical facilities in G B Pant hospital will surely help in instilling sense of safety among mariners transiting through the Andaman sea.”