MaltaMedia.com

A 45-year old Romanian crewman, onboard a Monrovian registered tanker, was earlier on Monday urgently medically evacuated to hospital, suffering from a suspected heart attack.

The tanker, “CONTI HUMBOLDT” informed the Armed Forces of Malta’s Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC Malta) at Luqa Barracks, at around 0930hrs that one of its crewmen required medical evacuation from the 184 meter tanker. The vessel was 14 nautical miles (NM) off Malta’s east coast. An Alouette III rescue-helicopter of the AFM’s Air Wing was immediately scrambled to the air from its base at Luqa Airport.

Deployed on this rescue flight was newly-qualified rescuer Gunner Steven Xuereb, who was winched down onto the tanker to stabilize the casualty, Adrian Burtedy. Both were winch-hoisted back on board the rescue-helicopter, and the casualty was directly conveyed to Mater Dei hospital for further treatment. This was Gunner Xuereb’s first operational rescue. He is also the AFM’s first Gozitan rescue-swimmer.

The AFM Air Wing’s Rescue Section is a highly specialized team of personnel that trains soldiers in the skill of “Rescue Jumping”. Apart from specializing in First Aid, helicopter operations, and other life saving skills, AFM rescuers must also be able to stabilize a casualty for transport by air to medical facilities.

Last July, six AFM soldiers were qualified as Rescuers after completed a year long course, bringing the total number of rescue-jumpers within the AFM up to sixteen.

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