Polka

An ill crew member was safely evacuated by helicopter from the "Nordic Amy" in the night of Feb 14, 2016. The Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre received a call from the captain of the tanker at 10.50 p.m. on Feb 13 that a crew member was suffering from abdominal pain. Following medical advice from Radio Medical Services in Rome, the ship was diverting from its current position, 515 miles east of Bermuda, to land the patient ashore via pilot boat in the afternoon of Feb 15. But in the evening of Feb 14 the crew member’s condition continued to deteriorate and following medical advice from Radio Medical Services in Rome and consultation with the US Coast Guard flight surgeon, it was decided to dispatch a US Coast Guard helicopter to bring the casualty ashore. RCC Bermuda and RCC Norfolk coordinated the launch of a US Coast Guard C-130 fixed wing aircraft and H-60 helicopter, with both aircraft landing in Bermuda around 11pm last night for fuel before travelling to the vessel. At 3.45 a.m. the patient was successfully airlifted by helicopter and taken to LF Wade International Airport for onward transit by ambulance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Both search and rescue aircraft remainws in Bermuda pending crew rest and eventual return to the US.