BINTULU: A Filipino crew member suffering from suspected appendicitis was safely evacuated from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel about 15 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Kidurong on Thursday (July 16).
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) carried out the medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) after receiving an emergency request for assistance.
Bintulu MMEA’s Director, Captain Muhammad Suffian Eldine Abdullah, said the Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Kuching received the request from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Putrajaya before deploying patrol vessel MALAYSIA KILAT 44, which was already on operational patrol.
“MMEA personnel provided initial medical assistance before transferring the 28-year-old crew member, identified as John Michael, onto the patrol vessel and transporting him to a nearby jetty.
“The victim was later handed over to the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) at Bintulu Port before being taken by ambulance to Hospital Kemena for further treatment,” he said in a statement.
Suffian said the successful operations reflected the agency’s readiness to respond swiftly to maritime emergencies involving lives at sea.
He also reminded the maritime community to prioritise safety, and report emergencies to the authorities without delay.
