The Argentine Naval Prefecture conducted a high-seas rescue operation to evacuate a 35-year-old Argentine sailor suffering from a digestive hemorrhage aboard the vessel Stella Maris I, over 200 kilometers off Mar del Plata. The crew member exhibited vomiting with blood and hemodynamic instability, necessitating urgent medical care. The rescue involved a helicopter and an airplane, ending with his transfer to a local hospital.
The incident began when the captain of the Argentine fishing vessel Stella Maris I alerted a Naval Prefecture (PNA) Maritime Traffic Management Center about one of his crew members' condition. The 35-year-old Argentine sailor was experiencing intense bloody vomiting, indicative of a digestive hemorrhage and hemodynamic instability. This occurred 118 nautical miles (over 200 kilometers) off Mar del Plata.
A radio consultation was immediately conducted with a PNA doctor, who prescribed absolute rest and medication. However, hours later, the symptoms persisted, prompting a complex aeroevacuation operation. A helicopter and an airplane from the Mar del Plata Air Station took off, carrying rescue swimmers and a doctor on board.
In a precise maneuver, rescuers descended from the helicopter to the vessel and extracted the crew member using a sanitary basket, hoisting him into the aircraft. During the return flight, the Institution's emergency doctor provided initial care. Upon arrival at the local station's helipad, a coordinated ambulance rushed him to a healthcare facility.
The landing was supported by firefighters from the Mar del Plata Prefecture's Salvamento, Incendio y Protección Ambiental (SIPA) Station, who performed preventive tasks to ensure the operation proceeded without issues. This rescue underscores the PNA's response capabilities in maritime emergencies.
