Manoora saves sailor
Claudia picked up the paralysed fisherman and steamed to meet our LPA

HMAS Manoora’s chart showing the various ships’ positions in the rescue.

By Graham Davis

While returning to Australia from The Gulf HMAS Manoora (CMDR Martin Brooker) turned around in the Indian Ocean and went to the aid of a Spanish fisherman paralysed from the waist down.
The dramatic rescue spanned six days late last month and saw Rescue Co-ordination Centres in Madrid and Canberra heavily involved.

The 35 year-old fisherman was in good hands once Manoora’s doctor, LCDR Simon Winder, began treating him. Simon is a Reservist on CFTS who is well versed in trauma medicine; he is in charge of the emergency unit at the Coffs Harbour Hospital. He and his assistant ABMED Matthew Atkinson set up a drip and administered drugs.

Preliminary diagnosis suggested the sailor was suffering from a severe viral infection. Later diagnosis indicated that his paralysis was caused by a tumour on his spine.

According to CMDR Brooker Manoora was on her way to Australia from Iraq carrying equipment used by ADF personnel in the recent conflict.

The ship was 36 hours away from Fremantle on Monday June 23 when the fishing trawler Golden Sun radioed the Rescue Centre in Madrid that her first mate was paralysed from the waist down.

Madrid spoke with the RCC in Canberra who identified two vessels which could possibly help.

One was Manoora, the other the container ship Claudia which was 300 miles away from Golden Sun. Both ships were asked to help.

“We turned around and headed west on the Monday evening,” CMDR Booker said.

As she headed to the rescue Manoora encountered heavy seas and was forced to reduce speed to eight or nine knots.

Meanwhile Claudia had reached the trawler, recovered the fisherman and was heading towards Australia.

“We rendezvoused with Claudia at first light on June 26,” CMDR Brooker said.

Manoora launched a RHIB and LCDR Winder and AB Atkinson with their equipment were transferred to the merchant ship.
Both ships sailed in company to Fremantle where an ambulance waited to take the fisherman to the Fremantle Hospital.
CMDR Booker praised his ship’s company for their actions. He also praised the many agencies who combined to carry out the rescue.

“At one stage we had a radio hook up with RCC Madrid, RCC Canberra, Claudia and Manoora,” he said.

After a few days R and R in Fremantle, Manoora sailed for Sydney, her home port.

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