The Airborne Service Helicopter Rushed to Rescue A Sailor Who Suddenly Attacked by Stroke on A Tanker
On November 12, 2015, a Taiwanese sailor suddenly attacked by stroke on NEPTURE, a Sierra Leone tanker which was on its way to Taiwan, nearby the Wuchiu waters (about 74 sea miles to Taiwan). The sailor was unconscious and got in a dangerous condition. The Coast Guard Agency urgently applied for the Airborne Service Corp to dispatch helicopters for rescue. After receiving the task inform, the Airborne Service Corp immediately made a risk assessment and confirm the basic data and coordinate position of the tanker at about 15. The Corp then instantly dispatched equipped crews of Type AS-365 (No. NA-107) from the Group 1 (stationed at Taichung Ching Chuang Kang Airport) of the 2nd Service Battalion to go for rescue. The task plane arrived at the target area at about 16:10. After discussion, crews of the plane decided to adopt the aloft hanging method. In order to get rid of influences from the obstacles like cables and masts on the tanker, hauling cables should be firstly threw to the ship. After that, they slowly sent the nacelle to the ship, with several times of descent to and from. They finally rescue the patient successfully at about 16:28. The plane went on the return voyage immediately and landed at the Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital at about 17:06. The ambulance personnel took over the patient to do further rescue. The Airborne Service Corp completed the mission successfully.