Foi desta forma que a neta da vítima resgatada da embarcação MT descreve o ocorrido durante a viagem às Desertas: “…a situação poderia ter terminado muito mal”. Na passada quarta-feira o SANAS Madeira efetuou a primeira evacuação médica, numa ocorrência em que a patologia cardíaca da senhora de 90 anos foi determinante para a decisão de contarmos com um enfermeiro da instituição a bordo que, em permanente contato com o SEMER e com o Serviço Regional de Protecção Civil, IP-RAM , abordou, avaliou e acompanhou a vítima desde a embarcação Bonita da Madeira até ao Centro de Salvamento Costeiro. Abaixo deixamos as carinhosas palavras que a neta da senhora de nacionalidade lituana endereçou à tripulação da embarcação MT e do SANAS103 que efetuou o resgate:
“On 3 April, my family and I sailed to the Desert Islands. When we were almost there, my grandmother, who is 90 years old, got sick – nauseous because of the constant swell. She became very weak, had chest pains, took the medication she had on the way back (she was always on the boat, we had not disembarked), could not even speak, could hardly open her eyes, and had a severe headache. I warned the crew of the Bonita da Madeira that my grandmother was not feeling well and needed help.
The crew contacted the emergency service, advised her to lie down, took care of first aid (proper lying position, water with sugar, etc.) and, when a very rare pulse was detected, it was decided to call a rescue team that could monitor the medical assistance and take her to a medical facility.
The boat was sailing as fast as possible, and the rescue team from the island of Madeira came to us. After ~30 minutes from the first call (very fast, as we had just left Desertas islands), both boats met, the rescue team boarded the boat, interviewed me about the situation of my grandmother – how she was feeling, what was hurting her, what medications she was taking, what illnesses she had or surgeries she had had, how the sensations developed during the trip, etc.
After a thorough questioning, it was decided to urgently float the grandmother ashore and transport her to hospital. The crew informed that an ambulance was already waiting for the grandmother on the shore.
The rescue team put the grandmother in their boat and quickly (at a speed of ~70km/h) brought her to shore (within 15 minutes). My husband was going together. And from there to the hospital.
It turned out that the upper blood pressure was 206, as well as dehydration.
If not for the quick actions of the crew and rescuers, the situation could have ended very badly.
Thanks to the crew of the Bonita da Madeira, as well as to the doctor who was with the tourists and to the rescue team, who reacted very promptly and provided the necessary assistance.
The rescue team not only helped to transfer my grandmother to the shore, but they took care of her all the same day and the next day after the rescue. Very caring and sincere people.
Grandma is now in a stable condition, recovering and getting stronger at my moms home here in Madeira.”