On Sunday 7 February 2015, the EU Naval Force counter-piracy flagship, ITS Andrea Doria, provided urgent medical assistance to an injured seafarer, who had suffered a serious burns injury whilst at sea in his cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.
The cargo ship, which was transiting through the Internationally Recommended Traffic Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden, had sent out a SOS distress call for help, which was relayed to the EU Naval Force flagship by German frigate, FGS Lubeck, which is also deployed with the EU’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta.
Upon hearing the call, the EU Force Commander, Rear Admiral Guido Rando, immediately ordered ITS Andrea Doria to launch her EH 101 helicopter, with the warship’s Medical Officer LT Alberto Guasconi on board, with the Italian destroyer also increasing speed and closing the distance to the cargo ship.
Once the Italian Navy helicopter arrived at the cargo ship, the Medical Officer was winched on board and taken to the seafarer.
After providing initial first aid, the Medical Officer assessed that the injured seafarer would require further specialist burns treatment in a hospital on land, so after being carefully placed on a stretcher, he was transferred to ITS Andrea Doria for an onward journey to Djibouti.
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Image: EUNAVFOR