Emergency airlift saves crew member off Cyprus coast

A 54-year-old man from the Philippines, a crew member of the Singapore-flagged cargo ship ‘Maersk Calabar’, was airlifted to the Paphos general hospital on Wednesday.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) activated the National Search and Rescue Plan “Nearchos” at 5.45pm to facilitate the emergency medical evacuation.

The ship was located 123 nautical miles southwest of Cyprus, within the search and rescue area of responsibility of the Republic.

A helicopter from the 460 Squadron of the Air Command of the National Guard was mobilised for the operation, accompanied by a specialised nurse from the ambulance service.

The patient was safely transported and delivered at 9.28pm to the hospital for further treatment.