Unicef heading to Durban for Medevac

Update 17:15 26/11/2019

Unicef crew member, Andrew Toms, continues to be in a stable condition. The Unicef team is currently entering Durban harbour with an NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) rib in convoy and an ambulance on standby to take Andrew to Netcare Umhlanga Hospital.

The team will be temporarily berthing at the NSRI station to take on fuel, gas and food which has been prepared in anticipation of its arrival. The team will depart immediately after the resupply has been completed (the resupply is likely to take two hours).

Unicef will then continue racing towards Fremantle.

The Clipper Race Office would like to express its gratitude to the NSRI for all its support over the past few days and also to Clipper Race crew member, Rob Stewart, who kindly arranged Unicef's gas and food supplies.

Update 12:30 24/11/2019

Unicef is continuing on towards Durban, South Africa and is making steady progress. The team is currently 355nm from Durban but is being hampered by the adverse south flowing Agulhas current and also some moderate upwind conditions. The wind conditions will turn more favourable this evening and tomorrow which will aid its progress. The current ETA of the yacht into Durban is late Tuesday evening on 26 November.

Crew member Andrew Toms is stable on board and resting. He is being monitored around the clock by medical professionals on board and Skipper Ian Wiggin is in constant contact with physicians at PRAXES, the race’s Global Medical Emergency Support Partner.

The Clipper Race Office is in regular communication with the yacht and also the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town and is currently working on the possibility of an early medevac from the yacht depending on what assets are available.

Further updates will follow in due course.

09:15 22/11/2019

The Unicef team has stopped racing and is heading towards Durban, South Africa, due to a crew member, Andrew Toms (51), suffering from suspected appendicitis.

The team is currently 615nm from Durban and has a decent wind angle to make fast progress, with an estimated arrival during the evening of Sunday 24 November.

Skipper of Unicef, Ian Wiggin, has been in regular communication with physicians at PRAXES, the race’s Global Medical Emergency Support Partner and the Clipper Race Office.

The Clipper Race Office is in direct contact with MRCC Cape Town and plans are being made for a medevac without need for the yacht to dock alongside.

Andrew’s emergency contact has been informed. We shall provide further updates as we have them.