Coast Guard evacuates sick Filipino

Visakhapatnam: Living up to its motto, Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect), Indian Coast Guard, successfully carried out medical evacuation of one of the members of sick Filipino crew from Merchant Vessel Beijing-2008 when it was at 190 NM east of Vizag in the Bay of Bengal, en route to Santos, Brazil.

Initial information received by the Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Chennai, who passed it to the Operations Centre of Coast Guard DHQ-6 in Vizag.

The DHQ-6 commenced operation to evacuate the 32-year-old ailing crew AB Dela Cruz Whilvin De Guzman (Chief Officer), who required urgent medical help, as his condition was deteriorated fast. ICG ship Rani Avantibai, already on a routine mission was diverted to evacuate the sick person.

ICGS Rani Avantibai evacuated the patient at 0530 hours on Sunday. The ailing crew was administrated medicines and thereafter the ship entered Coast Jetty, Visakhapatnam. The ailing crew was shifted to Apollo Hospital in ambulance arranged by the local agent and his condition is said to be stable.It may be recalled that The Indian Coast Guard is the nodal agency for undertaking maritime search and rescue operations in Indian EEZ.

This year, Indian Coast Guard has saved 26 lives in 10 major operations undertaken off Andhra Coast. The whole operation was conducted under the supervision of Commandant SS Singh, Operations Officer of Coast Guard headquarters (Andhra Pradesh). The shippers appreciated the Indian Coast Guard for timely evacuation.