By Our Correspondent
PANAJI/NEW DELHI: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully conducted a swift sea-air coordinated medical evacuation off Goa on June 06, 2021. Information was received at 0430 hours at Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (Mumbai) that the captain of a ship, MT ELIM, a 50-year old South Korean national needed emergency medical assistance. The Marshall Island flag vessel, that was about 109 nm south west of Goa at that time, was directed to proceed towards Goa, while a swift operational plan was drawn by Coast Guard District HQ Goa for safe evacuation of the patient.
At 0530 hrs, ICG ship C-158 sailed out from Goa, maintaining continuous communication with MT ELIM. For speedy evacuation of the patient, ICG Chetak helicopter was deployed from Coast Guard Air Enclave (Goa). Braving gusting monsoon winds, the helicopter reached the vessel and airlifted the patient with the help of aircrew diver. The patient was safely brought ashore and shifted to SMRC hospital in Vasco, Goa where his condition is reported to be stable.
