After A Heart Attack In The Arabian Sea, The Crew Of This Polish Cargo Ship Was Rescued By Dubai Police

JAKARTA - A Polish man who suffered a heart attack aboard a ship 28 nautical miles from the mainland has survived after being flown to a hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for treatment.

Dubai Police said its air force flew the sailor to safety on Monday after he suffered a heart attack while working aboard a commercial vessel off the emirate's waters.

The 64-year-old fell ill at around 6.30pm, before help was called and he was taken to Rashid hospital by Dubai Police air force officers.

"We received a report from the National Search and Rescue Center about one of the crew members having a heart attack on the ship outside the territorial waters. The situation requires immediate medical intervention," Colonel Khalfan Al Mazrouei, deputy director of the Air Force Center, told The National News. May 31.

The Air Force Center coordinated with the control tower at the Jebel Ali Port Operations Center, placing the vessel at a distance of 28 nautical miles into the Arabian sea.

Instead of landing on the ship, the helicopter had to hover and maintain its position while evacuating the man from the ship, fielding a medic.

"The ship didn't have a helipad, so paramedics were (dropped onto) the ship before they picked up the distressed sailors with rescue cranes," he said.

Paramedics from the Dubai Ambulance on board the helicopter provided first aid before the man was flown to Rashid Hospital.

"It was the quick response that helped save his life," said Colonel Al Mazrouei.