Hull & Humber crewman in medivac to warship
by Event media on 28 Oct 2007
Hull and Humber - Clipper 2007 - 08 onEdition
http://www.onEdition.com
Sam Willis, the crew member on Hull & Humber in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race who was transferred to a Brazilian Navy warship to medivac him because of a suspected grumbling appendix is recovering after being examined in hospital in Brazil.
After carrying out tests, doctors standing by to treat him at the Hospital Santa Rita in Vitoria on the Brazilian coast have decided not to admit him, concluding it is not appendicitis, but probably caused by something he ate.
British Consular officials and a member of the Clipper Race team met Sam in Vitoria and will stay with him until his father arrives on Sunday (28 October) morning. He is now en route from the UK.
The medivac was coordinated by the Clipper Race Office with assistance from external agencies, including Falmouth Coastguard and the British Consulate, the Brazilian Navy and Brazilian MRCC in Rio de Janeiro.
Clipper 07-08 Race Director Joff Bailey says, 'I am very grateful for the support we have received from the Brazilian Navy, the port commander of Vitoria and the Brazilian MRCC in Rio. Without their help Sam would have taken a further 8 to 12 hours to reach expert medical care. The advice and support of the British Honorary Consulates in Salvador and in Vitoria has been invaluable and has made a difficult situation manageable. They should be very proud of the service they provide to British citizens abroad.'
He continues, 'The UK Coastguard at Falmouth played an instrumental role in the situation by providing a link to medical advice that allowed a decision to be made. The experience of the skipper Danny Watson was evident as he handled the situation faultlessly, making the right calls at the right time to ensure the risks to Sam and the rest of his crew where minimised and dealt with rapidly. I am sure he will now be chomping at the bit to catch up the miles they have lost.'
The transfer took place at 21:40 GMT 26 October 2007 and the warship headed for Vitoria on the Brazilian coast. An ambulance was there to meet Sam, 17, to take him to hospital where his condition was assessed. His father is now en route to Brazil and will meet him on Sunday. In the meantime a member of the Clipper Race team travelled to meet him in Vitoria.
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