ICG doctor assist medical advice to Greek merchant ship cadet suffering from appendicitis

MUMBAI: An Indian Coast Guard (CG) doctor stationed at Mumbai’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) gave medical advice over a call that its office received to get immediate medical assistance to a Deck Cadet of the Greek merchant ship suffering with appendicitis on Tuesday.
The medical emergency arose 300 nautical miles South West of Gujarat when the MRCC, Mumbai received the call at 6.30-7am, said the CG official.
The official said the merchant ship — MT Hellas Serenity (LPG Tanker )— has been enroute from Fujairah to Indonesia when the medical emergency came. “The vessel requested ICG for a medical evacuation alerting that its deck cadet onboard is suffering from acute appendicitis,” said the official.
Establishing communication, the MRCC, Mumbai gave initial medical advice and administered essential medicines available onboard the merchant ship. “Later the merchant ship was to proceed towards Porbandar. The condition of the cadet was continously monitored by the CG doctor stationed at MRCC, Mumbai,” said the official.
The CG Air Enclave at Porbandar launched an advance light helicopter at 7.30am and airlifted the cadet 40 nautical miles off Porbandar at 7.50am and transferred the patient to Rajkot through the agents appointed by the owners.