Updated | Sailor sustains head injuries during Rolex Middle Sea Race

A sailing boat (DU4) taking part in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, launched a distress call yesterday evening after one of its crew members sustained a head injury.

The AFM Operations Centre immediately commenced rescue efforts in inclement weather. Several attempts to conduct a medical evacuation of the patient initially proved difficult due to severe weather conditions (Winds Force 7 and a swell of 4-6 meters).

The AFM Operations Centre maintained constant contact with DU4 throughout the night, however, after the sailing boat changed its course and started heading towards the Maltese Islands, it sustained manoeuvrability and power failures. The AFM Operations Centre diverted a merchant vessel to standby the yacht which, together with another sailing boat, kept close proximity to the DU4 for safety reasons.

In view of the worsening weather conditions, the AFM scrambled the crew of the largest Offshore Patrol Vessel, P61 which immediately made way to the area. In the early hours of the morning, P61 approached DU4 that was drifting 30 nautical miles South West of Malta.

After several attempts, P61 managed to secure a towing line and started towing the sailing boat to the islands channel in order to conduct the medical evacuation. Search and Rescue Launch Melita II was also involved in the operation. The AFM Operations Centre dispatched an Italian Military Mission AB212 helicopter that landed at a nearby car park in Marfa as a precautionary measure whilst P61 with DU4 moored alongside Marfa Pier.

Following a triage procedure on site by the AFM Medic, the patient was then transferred to Mater Dei by an awaiting ambulance. Another ambulance on site assisted two other crew members who also sustained injuries.