Indian Navy rescues sick Malaysian national off Mumbai coast on board merchant vessel

The patient being transferred to an ambulance upon arriving at INS Shikra in Colaba, Mumbai

A 34-year-old Malaysian national, who was rescued by the Indian Navy this morning off Mumbai Coast continues to be in a critical condition at the city's Saifee hospital. Geeta Selvaraj, the Malaysian national was experiencing difficulty in breathing.

Dr. Vernon Deesa, Medical Director at Saifee hospital, confirmed the same and told mid-day, "Geeta was brought to the causality by the Naval staff this morning and shifted to the ICU in a semi-conscious state. We have carried out various tests and she continues to be under our observation. Once we go through the reports, we will be able to point out the exact reason for her breathing difficulty."

The patient being evacuated from the merchant' vessel to the Seaking helicopter

According to the information received from Navy, "Around 6 am, this morning at the Joint Operation Centre at Headquarters, the Western Naval Command received a distress call informing about a medical emergency onboard Singapore flag merchant vessel M V Eagle Tampa, which was 18 nautical miles away from Mumbai coast."

Geeta Selvaraj, the Malaysian national who was on board the said merchant vessel was informed to be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease and was experiencing difficulty in breathing.

"Attempts by the ship's agent M/s JM Baxi & Co to transfer the patient to a tug failed due to high swell in the area. The patient being unconscious, also added to the complexity of the transfer," a naval spokesperson said.

Following confirmation of two failed attempts to transfer the patient to the tug, an Indian Naval Seaking helicopter from INS Shikra was scrambled for MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation). The helicopter picked up Geeta from the ship and returned to INS Shikra after a few hours, and she was rushed to Saifee hospital for further treatment.