A cargo ship had to be anchored just outside the Table Bay Port on Monday evening after a man who had illegally boarded the ship was injured. The Transet National Ports Authority alerted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to the incident after the man was injured from his fall from the UAL Lobito cargo ship.
”Two males were reportedly found to be unauthorised persons aboard the ship that had departed Table Bay Port earlier and one of the men had reportedly been injured from a fall onboard the ship. The ship had put to anchor and raised the alarm,” the NSRI reported. “NSRI Table Bay launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom accompanied by WC Government Health EMS rescue paramedics and rendezvoused with the ship at her anchorage in Table Bay and the SA Police Services were alerted.”
Two NSRI swimmers boarded the ship along with two emergency services rescue paramedics, and found the injured man in a barely accessible area of the ship – he was resting between containers and all attempts by the crew of the ship to reach him had failed.
A technical rescue operation ensued and made use of high-angle ropes and other specialized equipment. The man, who is 22 years old, suffered what is suspected to be a fractured ankle. The second male, who is 18 years old, is currently in the care of the ship’s crew and was not injured at all.
Both of the men are reported to be Tanzanian nationals.
“Both were transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought into the Port of Table Bay and the injured patient has been transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition and the teenager has been taken into the care of the Sea Borderline Police and an investigation into the incident and the circumstances have been opened by Police,” the NSRI said.
Picture: NSRI