The Indian Coast Guard rescued a 21-year-old fisherman who sustained a severe head injury aboard a fishing boat 40 nautical miles off Jafrabad in Amreli district on 5 November. The injured crew member was evacuated by sea and taken to hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Alert from fisheries officials
Around 9.30 pm on 5 November, Coast Guard officials in Porbandar received an urgent alert from the Gujarat State Fisheries Department, reporting that a fisherman on a boat named IFB Shri Dhanlaxmi, also known as Kutchi, was in urgent need of medical assistance.
On receiving the alert, Indian Coast Guard Station Pipavav coordinated a medical evacuation and deployed the ship ICGS C-409 to assist the injured fisherman.
The ship reached the fishing vessel and transferred the injured fisherman on board for care. The crew treated him with first aid and stabilised him for the journey back to shore.
From Pipavav Harbour, the fisherman was shifted to a hospital in Rajula in Amreli district for urgent treatment.
A response at sea
The incident showed the importance of quick coordination between the Coast Guard and the fisheries department when a medical emergency occurs far out at sea.
Following the alert, the Coast Guard coordinated the response with the Gujarat State Fisheries Department and swung into action. It swung the ship into action within a short time after receiving the alert.
Since the fisherman had a head injury, the crew had to handle the transfer on board the Coast Guard ship with care. The man received prompt medical attention at the right time.
The rescue is the latest example of the response by the Indian Coast Guard in recent times to stand ready to provide help to fishermen and other mariners in the Indian waters off the Gujarat coast.
