At around 09:30 local time on Tuesday, January 7, the Durban branch of South Africa's National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and a South African Air Force (SAAF) helicopter unit were tasked to rendezvous with the heavy lift vessel Boka Vanguard, that was approaching Durban, to assist five Brazilian crewmen who had suffered injuries following an onboard accident.
The accident reportedly occurred on board the offshore processing ship Petrobras 70, which was being transported by Boka Vanguard at the time.
The NSRI said that a sixth Brazilian crewman suffered fatal injuries in the same accident and that, on the ship captain's request, the body of the deceased would remain aboard Petrobras 70.
Boka Vanguard diverted from its planned route to head towards the Port of Durban as an SAAF helicopter with three embarked paramedics landed on Petrobras 70 and took the five injured crewmembers on board. The NSRI sea rescue craft Alick Rennie was also deployed to render assistance.
The injured individuals were then airlifted to a hospital in Durban. All five are reportedly in stable condition.
No details have yet been provided on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
