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MINISTER MOOSA ACTS TIMEOUSLY AS SAS OUTENIQUA DEPARTS ON MEDICAL EMERGENCY EVACUATION TO MARION ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, 1 AUGUST 2001: A medical emergency, requiring the evacuation of two seriously ill members of the overwintering team on Marion Island, has resulted in the Minster of Environmental Affairs and Tourism calling for a medical emergency evacuation.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) is responsible for managing the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP). At present, the 58th South African overwintering expedition to Marion Island is underway and, as the managing agency for this team, DEAT has consulted with the SA Navy for the use of its combat support ship, the SAS Outeniqua to conduct a medical emergency evacuation mission.
The decision to utilise the SAS Outeniqua is due to her excellent medical facilities on board, which includes a fully equipped hospital, should it be necessary to conduct surgical procedures on board.
The voyage, under the command of DEAT Officer in Charge, Mr Adriaan Dreyer, departed from the port of Durban at 18h42 on Tuesday 31 July 2001. The SAS Outeniqua is captained by Captain Glen Knox of the SA Navy. A team from 22 Squadron of the SA Air Force, led by Major Trevor Jew, has accompanied the voyage to render air support with one Oryx helicopter, and a medical team from the SA Medical Health Services, under Major Jeremy Venter, is also on board.
One patient, believed to be suffering from a possible bleeding stomach ulcer, will be brought back to Cape Town for treatment and the other, who is suffering from possible cardiac complications, may accompany him. Replacements for the two returning expedition members are on board and will remain on Marion Island until the present expedition returns in May 2002. Two small support teams are also on board to render any emergency training that needs to be done on the Island.
The journey is expected to take about three and a half days, pending weather conditions, as Marion Island is located in some of the roughest seas in the world. Marion is one of two islands of the Prince Edward Islands group, both of which are South African possessions and located some 1 100km south-east of Cape Town.
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Mohammed Valli Moosa, has expressed wishes of a speedy recovery for the two team members.
For more information contact Mr Henry Valentine (Director: Antarctica and Islands) on (083) 306-7084
Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 1 August 2001