INDIA. Mumbai: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) evacuated an ailing Chinese crew amid challenging weather conditions, from the Chinese Research Vessel “MV Dong Fang Kan Tan No 2”, around 200 Kms in deep mid-Arabian near the Union territory of Daman in the pitch dark Wednesday night.
The Chinese individual felt chest pain and signs of cardiac arrest when the Chinese ship was sailing from Port Macun, China, to the UAE.
On Wednesday evening, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Mumbai, received a message from Yin Weigyang (24), the master of the Chinese vessel, that one of his crew had symptoms of cardiac attack with high Blood Pressure and required urgent medical attention.
The MRCC immediately established the communication, and the patient was provided with preliminary telemedicine advice. The Indian Coast Guard Ship “ICGS Samrat,” on patrol duty with the medical team onboard, was diverted to rush to the scene.
However, at around 07:45 PM, the master, through their agent, requested an urgent evacuation by air. Considering the gravity of the situation, the ICG ALH MK-III, an indigenous Helicopter manufactured by HAL, operating around 350 km away from Daman, was moved to Daman at 22:30 PM.
Thereafter post refuelling, the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) took off at Wednesday midnight with the medical team and headed for the vessel, which was 200 km away from Daman.
Despite night hours, low visibility and challenging sea conditions, the daredevil pilots winched up the Chinese crew by rescue basket at around 0130 AM on Thursday and brought him safely to Daman at around 0255 AM. The ailing Chinese crew was administered medical aid in the aircraft, and thereafter, he was shifted to “Haria Hospital” at Vapi in Gujarat by an ambulance on landing.
The operation added a fillip to the Indian ethos of International Co-operation of Rescue Beyond Borders or Nationalities and “Vasudev Katumbikam” (the World is one) and re-affirmed ICG’s commitment to the motto “We Protect”, the official statement read.
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