Indian Coast Guard successfully carried out medical evacuation of a sick Filipino crew from Merchant Vessel Beijing-2008, when it was located about 190 nautical miles off the coast of Visakhapatnam, in the early hours of Sunday. The ship was en route to Santos in Brazil.
The information was first received by Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Chennai, who passed it to the Operations Centre of Coast Guard DHQ-6 at Vizag. DHQ-6 commenced operation to evacuate the 32-year-old ailing crew Mr AB Dela Cruz Whilvin De Guzman (Chief Officer), who required urgent medical help, as his condition was deteriorating fast. ICG ship Rani Avantibai, which was on a routine mission was diverted to evacuate the sick person.
The ailing crew member was administrated with medical care on board first and then shifted to a corporate hospital in Visakhapatnam and his condition is now said to be stable.
