Mariners' effective teamwork saves woman's life
The crew of Marine Region East Police Launch 55 will not forget August 1 for a long time. A 45-year-old woman aboard a pleasure craft visiting Long Ke Wan had almost drowned when attempting to swim to the beach. She had quickly got into trouble and had to be pulled from the water by the crew of the pleasure craft's smallboat.
Fortunately, two alert and experienced Senior Police Constables, Mr Tse Kam-chuen and Mr Chang Hing-to, were distributing water safety leaflets from a small boat attached to Police Launch 55 when they noticed a gesticulating crowd gathered at the stern of the pleasure craft.
Mr Tse recalled: "Our experience told us that something had gone wrong and we approached the craft to see if we could help."
"When we arrived we saw that the woman had already fallen into a coma, so we alerted Police Launch 55 and escorted the smallboat to it. We then transferred her to Police Launch 55," added Mr Chang.
Station Sergeant, Mr Ng Kin-ip, who is also a Senior Superintendent of the Saint John Ambulance Brigade, was assigned to look after the woman, while other members of the crew were busy contacting various parties, including the Government Flying Service, to arrange for hospitalisation.
Police Launch 55 Commander, Senior Inspector Mr Tsang Yat-yau, said: "After careful consideration of the options and the physical state of the women, we decided that it would be faster and safer for us to take the woman to Marine East Base for transfer to hospital."
The woman was discharged from Tseung Kwan O Hospital five days later when she told Offbeat that she was very appreciative of the efforts of those involved in her rescue which had been fully described to her by friends.
Marine East Assistant Divisional Commander (Operations), Mr Lee Siu-leung, attributed the success of the rescue to the alertness of Messrs Tse and Chang, Mr Ng's expertise in first-aid and the PL55 crew's teamwork. "I am very proud of their outstanding performance," said Mr Lee.
Station Sergeant Mr Ng Kin-ip demonstrates the 'recovery position'