Unique maritime operation saves ailing seaman8217;s life

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 9: It was a marathon 3,000 kilometre land-sea-air dash to save a man's life. For the first time in maritime history, a se...

MUMBAI, DECEMBER 9: It was a marathon 3,000 kilometre land-sea-air dash to save a man8217;s life. For the first time in maritime history, a seaman who suffered brain haemorrhage was evacuated from deep in the Indian Ocean to a military hospital in the country.

All was well onboard the Coast Guard ship CGS Sarang on a mission in the Indian Ocean some 1800 kilometres off the Indian coast last Sunday. At around 3.30 pm, Pramukh Navik Virendra Singh complained of severe pain the head. Little did the sailor know that his illness could result in one of the longest casualty and evacuation casevac operation in maritime history.

The ship8217;s medical officer got in touch with the INHS Asvini hospital in Mumbai, where the case was diagnosed as one of brain haemorrhage.

CGS Sarang was about 1,170 km away from Male, the capital of the Maldives when the Regional Head Quarters in Mumbai was alerted. Commandant A K Verma immediately ordered a Dornier plane to take off from the Daman base, which landed in Kochi within twohours.

Even as a plan was being finalised by Deputy Inspector General Arun Mahajan, Naval Headquarters at New Delhi was alerted for deploying a heavy-duty Seaking helicopter for evacuating the ailing seaman from CGS Sarang. The ship had in the meantime diverted course towards Kochi to make the casevac a little easy.

Meanwhile, the Dornier with a full crew of medical experts had flow into Male airport from Kochi. The Seaking helicopter which also arrived from Kochi soon hovered the 1,170 kilometre distance over the windy Indian Ocean to join the operation.

The helicopter after refuelling took off from Male and located CGS Sarang about 400 kilometre off the coast of the Maldives before evacuating the sailor, battling for life in mid-sea.

Story continues below this ad

Around 6 pm on Monday December 6 the Seaking helicopter returned to Male with Virendra Singh and he was immediately transferred to the waiting Dornier aircraft, which then took off for Bangalore. Five hours later, Singh was admitted to a military hospital there andoperated upon.

Sources in the Coast Guard revealed that Singh8217;s condition is stable and he is recovering. Thirty-two-year Singh joined the Coast Guard in 1982 and hails from a village in Uttar Pradesh. A little delay could cost have cost the sailor his life.

What, however, deserves to highlighted is the fact that the Government of Maldives had waived standard immigration procedures fearing it could endanger the live of the seaman. The Indian government too had reciprocated by giving clearance for the Coast Guard-Navy joint operation, a Coast Guard official revealed.