MERSING: A 63-year-old man was transported via a medical evacuation mission after he injured his hand while operating a grinding machine at Pulau Pemanggil here, today.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Mersing Maritime Zone director Suhaizan Saadin, said the evacuation was done at 11.30am, after they were alerted of the incident by the island village head.
MMEA's patrol boat, Perkasa 31 was on a regular crime prevention patrol, when it was directed to conduct the medical evacuation mission.
The victim identified as Rafa Abu Niat, had his hand crushed by the machine and required urgent medical attention.
However, due to the rough sea conditions of the northeast monsoon, regular boats were unable to manoeuvre either in or out of the islands in Mersing.
Suhaizan said the medical evacuation mission or Medevac was a success and the victim was ferried to Maritime Post Jetty in Teluk Gading, here, before he was rushed to the Mersing Hospital.
He urged those living in islands and the maritime communities to remain vigilant during the northeast monsoon, which is expected to last until the end of March this year.
He said during this period, heavy and continuous rain will cause the tides to be significantly high with strong currents and massive waves, that contributes to rough sea conditions.