On Monday 22 June 2026, the GMSRS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) coordinated two separate maritime medical evacuations simultaneously off the coast of Cape Town, demonstrating the organisation’s ability to rapidly deploy multiple specialist medical rescue teams across both aviation and marine platforms.

Earlier that morning, the GMSRS EOC received a request for the urgent medical evacuation of a crew member aboard a bulk carrier operating approximately 70 nautical miles west of Cape Town. Working closely with Cape Town Helicopters Offshore, the vessel’s representatives, shipping agents, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Port Health, and the Western Cape Department of Health, Medevac 04 and its helicopter medical rescue team were placed on standby while detailed flight planning and operational coordination commenced.

While preparations for the offshore helicopter mission were underway, a second emergency was reported involving a crew member who had sustained injuries following a fall from height aboard a crude oil tanker anchored off the Port of Cape Town.

With dense fog preventing safe helicopter operations within the port and anchorage area, the GMSRS EOC immediately activated a second specialist medical rescue team to respond by sea. Working in partnership with Rope Access Inspection, a five-member Advanced Life Support (ALS), maritime rescue and high-angle technical rescue team departed by launch vessel to the tanker.

On arrival alongside the vessel, the ALS practitioner and technical rescue personnel were transferred onboard, where the patient underwent an immediate medical assessment and stabilisation. Following treatment, the patient was carefully packaged in a vacuum mattress and rescue basket before being safely lowered to the waiting launch vessel using a twin-tension rope rescue system established by the technical rescue team.

The patient was transported safely back to shore, where an awaiting ambulance received the patient for transfer to hospital, accompanied by the GMSRS ALS practitioner for continued monitoring and care.

While the launch-based medical evacuation was in progress, weather conditions improved further west of Cape Town, allowing Medevac 04 to launch and rendezvous with the bulk carrier approximately 50 nautical miles offshore.

On arrival overhead the vessel, our helicopter medical rescue team was hoisted onto the ship, where they conducted a comprehensive patient assessment and initiated advanced medical treatment. Once stabilised, the patient was packaged in specialised helicopter rescue equipment before being safely hoisted into the aircraft.

Throughout the flight back to Cape Town, the patient remained under continuous Advanced Life Support care before being transferred via awaiting ground ambulance to the receiving hospital for further specialist treatment.

The successful completion of both missions highlights the flexibility and capability of the GMSRS Medevac Africa division to coordinate multiple maritime medical emergencies simultaneously. Through the GMSRS Emergency Operations Centre, specialist aviation and maritime rescue resources were deployed concurrently, ensuring both patients received timely access to advanced medical care despite differing operational environments and weather challenges.

GMSRS, together with our operational partners Cape Town Helicopters Offshore and Rope Access Inspection, extends its sincere appreciation to all agencies and stakeholders involved in the successful outcome of both operations.

The coordinated efforts of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Port Health, the Western Cape Department of Health, shipping agents, insurers, vessel representatives, flight crews, launch operators, and maritime rescue personnel once again demonstrated the importance of an integrated emergency response capability for South Africa’s maritime sector.

These simultaneous activations further reinforce GMSRS’ ability to provide dynamic, scalable maritime medical evacuation and search and rescue solutions, whether by helicopter, launch vessel, or a combination of both, ensuring the most appropriate rescue platform is deployed based on the operational environment and patient needs.

The GMSRS Medevac Africa division is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for maritime medical evacuation and search and rescue operations.

Contact Information

For emergency medical rescue or search and rescue activations, contact the GMSRS 24/7 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC): +27 87 22 33 180

For general media enquiries, contact our office during office hours on +27 87 073 6700 or email media@gmsrs.com