RSAF evacuates suspected stroke victim from commercial vessel

The crew member was suspected to have suffered a stroke on board the vessel, which was 160km off the coast of Singapore. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AIR FORCE/FACEBOOK

SINGAPORE - A crew member on a commercial vessel was evacuated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) on Friday.

The crew were alerted at 11.42am to evacuate the crew member, RSAF said.

A video of the rescue was posted on the RSAF's Facebook page. In the 23-second video, a Rescue Super Puma helicopter was seen landing on an open field.

A man in T-shirt and jeans was carried in a stretcher from the rescue helicopter to an ambulance.

The crew member was suspected to have suffered a stroke on board the vessel, which was 160km off the coast of Singapore, RSAF said.

He was taken to the Singapore General Hospital and was reported to be in a stable condition.

RSAF wrote: "Our Rescue 10 team was called upon earlier today at 1142h to evacuate a crew member on board a commercial vessel about 160km off the coast of Singapore. The crew member was suspected to have suffered a stroke. He was evacuated expeditiously on board our Rescue 10 Search and Rescue Super Puma helicopter to Singapore General Hospital for further medical attention. He was last reported to be in a stable condition.

"The RSAF wishes the crew member a speedy recovery. We also salute our ground crew, aircrew and the medical team who worked like clockwork in executing the mission."

A Rescue 10 team was also activated last month in a rescue of another crew member on a commercial vessel. Mr Karydas Ioannis was suspected to have a heart attack and was transported to Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Jan 9.

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