Vietnam sent a rescue vessel around midnight Saturday to assist a German passenger who slipped and lost consciouness on a cruise ship bound for Singapore.
The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center received a distress signal at 0:04 a.m. on Feb. 14 from cruise ship MEIN SCHIFF 6, registered in Malta, sailing from Quang Ninh to Singapore. The ship was about 215 nautical miles off Da Nang at the time.
SAR 274 crew transfer a German patient who slipped and lost consciousness on a cruise ship to shore in Da Nang. Photo by DNMRCC |
The passenger, named Giovanni De Villa, 66, had slipped and lost consciousness. The ship’s doctor diagnosed a splenic injury, pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrhythmia, warning that the patient faced high risk of death without advanced medical intervention.
The center activated its emergency response system and coordinated with Da Nang’s 115 Emergency Center, the local Maritime Administration and border guard forces to draft a rescue plan. Authorities instructed MEIN SCHIFF 6 to change course and increase speed toward a rendezvous point closer to shore. Rescue vessel SAR 274 stood by to head out and intercept.
At 10 a.m. on Feb. 14, after the cruise ship had come close to land, SAR 274 left Da Nang port carrying a team of specialist doctors. Once the vessels met at the agreed position, rescuers transferred medical staff to the cruise ship.
By then, the patient remained unconscious, suffering respiratory failure and suspected severe internal bleeding. After initial treatment, rescuers moved him to SAR 274 for intensive care during the return to shore.
At noon the same day, the rescue vessel docked and handed the patient over to authorities, who transferred him directly to Vinmec Da Nang Hospital for further emergency treatment.
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