The Portuguese Navy coordinated this morning, August 29, through the Funchal Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Subcenter (MRSC Funchal) and together with the Urgent Patient Guidance Center – Maritime (CODU-MAR), with the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC IP-RAM) and with the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) of Lisbon and the Porto Santo Air Detachment, both of the Portuguese Air Force, the rescue of four crew members of a sailboat that caught fire.
According to a statement from the Navy, the alert was received at MRSC Funchal, at 4:59 am, by telephone contact from MRCC Madrid, informing that there were four crew members on board a vessel, approximately 180 kilometers northeast of Porto Santo Island that need med assistance, due to a fire on board.
The Portuguese Navy ship, NRP Zaire, and the Portuguese Air Force helicopter EH-101 and C-295 were immediately deployed to the site. After contacting CODU-Mar and analyzing the clinical condition of one of the crew members, it was considered necessary to embark a Rapid Intervention Medical Team (EMIR) activated through the SRPC IP-RAM, on board the EH-101.
The rescue ended at 1:50 pm and the helicopter landed at 2:30 pm at Funchal airport, where it was awaited by two ambulances from the Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters and another team from EMIR, who transported the victims to the hospital.