Navy coordinated two medical rescues in the Azores in three days

A Portuguese Navy, through the Centro de Coordenação de Busca e Salvamento Marítimo de Ponta Delgada (MRCC Delgada), coordinated two medical assistance operations, between Wednesday, November 4 and this Friday, day 6, in the Azores.

The first involved a “solitary boater of French nationality, who participated in the race Route du Rhum, who sailed about 275 nautical miles, the equivalent of about 510 kilometres north of Terceira Island, and two passengers of the Maltese flag passenger ship Celebrity Ascent, sailing about 250 nautical miles, about 463 kilometres south of the island of São Miguel”

According to the Navy in a press release published today on its website, “the first alert was received at MRCC Delgada, on Wednesday, 4 November, to inform that a 50-year-old French sailor who was taking part in the race Route du Rhum, was crossing Saint Malo in France, and Pointe-à-Pitre, on the island of Grand-Terre, had suffered a drop on board and needed medical assistance.”.

“ After articulation with the Urgent Patient Guidance Centre at Sea (CODU-Mar), which assessed the clinical situation, the sailboat was determined to diverge to Horta to receive adequate medical care. He entered the port of Horta at 7:20 p.m. on 5 November, accompanied by the boat to support the regatta ", can be read.

The sailor was “watched on site and subsequently transported by an ambulance from the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Department of the Azores (SRPCBA) to a hospital unit.”.

The second situation took place on Thursday also, at 11:46 a.m., when “two passengers, both of American nationality, aged 73 and 80 years, needed urgent medical care”. 

“ The 73-year-old passenger had a clinical picture compatible with internal bleeding, while the second 80-year-old had symptoms compatible with pneumonia ", continues.

“ In conjunction with the CODU-Mar and in coordination with the navigator, the divergence of the passenger ship to Ponta Delgada was determined. On arrival, the passengers were transferred to the speedboat of the pilots and landed in the port of Ponta Delgada by 12:49” on Friday, November 6.

After landing, “they were transported to a hospital unit” by an ambulance from the Regional Civil Protection Service and Firefighters of the Azores, “where they received the necessary medical care”. 

The MRCC was involved in the operations Delgada, the CODU-Mar, the Local Command of the Horta Maritime Police, the Port Capitania of Ponta Delgada, the navigating agent, the pilots of Ponta Delgada, the Republican National Guard and the Regional Service of Civil Protection and Firefighters of the Azores.