On Sunday 6th September 2015, the EU Naval Force counter-piracy flagship, ESPS “Galicia”, provided urgent medical assistance to an injured seafarer, who had suffered a flattening on his hand during a fishing campaign on the Atlantic Ocean on board the Spanish fishing vessel “Jai Alai”.

The fishing ship was 350 nautical miles to the north of the Seychelles islands when she directly called her shipping company requesting for medical assistance. The shipping company relayed the distress call to the Spanish Warship “Galicia” that was sailing in the north of Seychelles.

After some 12 hours of full speed navigation in opposite directions between the two ships, the Spanish helicopter was in range to perform the rescue operation. Therefore, during the morning of the 6th September, the helicopter called “Morsa” was launched to cover the 70 nautical miles between the two vessels. The helicopter was prepared to give medical assistance during the flight if needed, provided by the “Galicia’s” flight nurse, Lieutenant Sergio Palacios López.

Once the Spanish Navy helicopter arrived at the fishing ship, the rescue swimmer was winched on the fishing vessel deck so as to take the casualty with the rescue basket.

After providing initial first aid, the flight nurse assessed that the injured boatswain would require further specialist treatment on board the ESPS “Galicia’s” hospital. A complete operation on his big toe took place during one hour by the ROLE-2 team managed by Major Rafael Tamburri Bariain. The operation under general anesthesia provided by Major Ricardo Navarro was a complete success and, at the end, it was not necessary to amputate the big toe, so the seafarer will recover all the mobility in his finger with sometime of recuperation.

Afterwards, and being the seafarer complete recovered from the operation effects, he was carefully placed on a stretcher and transferred by helicopter to the hospital in Seychelles to continue with the treatment.

Since the EU Naval Force was launched in December 2008, many warships from European Union Member States have assisted seafarers in great distress in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

ESPS “Galicia” will continue with her counter piracy patrol along the Indian Ocean on her transit to Diego Suarez, Madagascar, where she is expected to moor the next 9th September 2015.