Coast Guard evacuates injured Filipino from merchant vessel

The Coast Guard evacuated an injured Filipino crew member from a Singapore-bound merchant vessel off the city coast and shifted him to a hospital here.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Coast Guard headquarters here coordinated a medical emergency on-board a foreign merchant vessel, Rickmers Shanghai, and evacuated Pilayre Gil Lopena, a 46-year-old crew member of the ship, said a spokesperson of the Indian marine agency said.
Lopena hails from the Philippines, he said.
"The incident took place 350km off Mumbai yesterday. Pilayre Gil Lopena crushed his fingers on-board leading to severe bone fracture.
"The vessel was on passage to Singapore when the medical emergency cropped up. The controller of Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Mumbai immediately diverted the vessel to Mumbai anchorage and informed the concerned shipping agent," the Coast Guard spokesperson said.

In the meantime, the medical team at MRCC provided regular medical advice. Necessary assistance was also provided to the agent in obtaining clearances from customs/immigration department, he said.
"The Coast Guard, in coordination with the agent, made arrangements to disembark the patient safely at Mumbai anchorage through a tug. The ship arrived at Mumbai anchorage early today and the patient was disembarked and shifted to a private hospital in Mumbai for medical assistance.
"The condition of the patient was reported to be stable," the spokesperson added.