The Indian Coast Guard has successfully conducted medical evacuation of a Chinese national from a Panama flagged research vessel, MV Dong Fang Kan Tan No 2, in the Arabian Sea off the Mumbai coast with an ALH helicopter flying amidst rough weather on a dark night.

The daring mission was carried out on the intervening night of 16-17 Aug 23 with the Coast Guard helicopter flying 200 kms from the Mumbai coast to the ship on the high seas, according to an official statement issued today.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai received information that one of the crew, named Yin Weigyang, onboard the research vessel had cardiac attack and required urgent medical attention. The communication was established immediately with the vessel which was en route from China to UAE and provided necessary telemedicine advice, according to a Defence Ministry statement.

In a daring operation, @IndiaCoastGuard #ALH MK-III evacuates a #Chinese national from MV Dong Fang Kan Tan No 2 around 200 Km mid-sea amidst challenging night conditions & extreme weather. Patient was reported chest pain &cardiac arrest symptoms.#SAR #ArabianSea#MaritimeSafety pic.twitter.com/THG0nBZjhi

— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 17, 2023

Considering best feasible options for speedy evacuation and subsequent medical management, the patient was airlifted by the Coast Guard’s ALH MK-III helicopter, and was administered first aid. He was later transferred to agent of the vessel for further medical management.

The swift operation undertaken by Coast Guard helicopter and CGAS Daman during the dark hours enabled the saving of a precious life of a foreign national at sea, reaffirming the Indian Coast Guard’s commitments to the motto “We Protect,” the statement added