Earlier today Mercy Wing 4, the KZN Emergency Medical Services aeromedical helicopter was dispatched to a report of a diving emergency on the KZN North Coast. The helicopter was scrambled on what is known in emergency services as a “hot response”, which is when the helicopter responds to a patient, in an emergency situation in the pre hospital environment.
The exact details of how the emergency unfolded are not clear but the man was apparently spear fishing and diving under the water, reportedly at a depth of about 20m, when he got onto difficulty. He was rescued by his colleagues, who brought him to the shore, provided first aid treatment and resuscitation measures, which revived the man and called for emergency assistance.
While the helicopter, which is based on the North Coast, was en-route to the area, the flight coordinator was liaising with the rescuers on the beach in the Saldanha area, and an emergency landing zone was prepared for the helicopter to land.
The helicopter landed on the beach and the two paramedics assessed and provided further medical care to the patient, whose condition seemed to have improved after the initial resuscitation procedures, which had been provided by his colleagues.
The man was then airlifted to Ngwelezane hospital where he was handed over to a team of medical specialists for continued medical care.
Robert Mckenzie
KZN EMS Media Liaison Officer
