A WOMAN’S life was dramatically saved aboard the fast ferry Buccoo Reef thanks to the swift response of medical personnel and members of the Defence Force.
The incident occurred last Thursday around 7.30 a.m., approximately one hour into the vessel’s journey from Port of Spain to Scarborough, when a female passenger suddenly collapsed.
MID-SEA RESCUE: The MV Buccoo Reef.
According to Defence Force officer Akiela Chance, when the incident first occurred and assistance was being requested, no one initially responded.
“I was the female soldier present, and I was the first person to step in and assist the elderly lady while others stood by. I approached her and asked what the issue was and whether she had any known medical conditions. I was told she was experiencing chest pain. With the help of another gentleman, I had her carefully laid on the floor, as she was seated at the time. I loosened her clothing to help her breathe, unfastening her belt and bra from the back—while maintaining her dignity. I then began administering CPR and instructed others to make an announcement for any medical professionals on board. A medical kit was eventually brought, and a doctor arrived approximately 15 minutes later,” she told the Express on Saturday.
She recalled that Noko Baird, a Petty Officer in the Coast Guard, assisted the doctor with CPR.
The doctor who responded was registrar at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Scarborough General Hospital, Dr Emillie Alpheus. She told the Express yesterday that upon reaching the patient, she observed that a small crowd had already gathered, as the woman struggled to breathe before losing consciousness.
“I just turned her over and started CPR. One of the staff…said, ‘Doc you need anything?’ I said, ‘We need an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)—get the AED.” I was shocked that they had one,” she said.
She recalled after the staff member left to get the AED, she started doing chest compressions.
“It’s hard to do chest compressions by yourself ongoing—very hard. This angel-sent person came and he introduced himself, saying he is Basic Life Support Trained (BLS) and he is a physician on vacation from the US. And he said, ‘Doc—when you are tired, we would switch out’, so I told him, I said: ‘When the AED comes, we would switch out’,” she added.
Alpheus recalled she continued efforts to revive the patient, calling for additional equipment while working alongside the visiting physician.
“At this time the other doctor who is on vacation, he is on chest compression (and) I am on airway, and that rounds of CPR finished and assessing the rhythm,” she said.
They then used the AED device to shock the woman.
“And I said: ‘Continue CPR.’ He said, ‘No, I think I am feeling a pulse.’ I told him continue CPR and I on airway was feeling her pushing against the oropharyngeal airway (related to the oropharynx, the middle part of the pharynx that serves as a shared pathway for air and food) trying to give breath, so I know we have something going here. So I am giving rescue breaths while we going with 30 compressions to two breaths until that cycle was over. I put my hand on her pulse and we have Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) (reviving her),” she recalled.
The woman later regained consciousness. The vessel turned back to Port of Spain, where the elderly woman was transferred by ambulance to a nearby medical facility for further treatment. She remains hospitalised but the Express was told she is recovering.
Alpheus expressed gratitude for the successful outcome, noting that this was her second time assisting in a life-saving CPR effort within the past two years.
“So I just glad it was a good outcome. I am thankful for all who was around that was able to help and lend a holding hand—the other physician who was on vacation, the patient care assistant and the other members of staff from the Buccoo Reef. I am grateful that we were able to help—help this family, that is. I got word from her relatives that she is doing well and from the doctors over there that she is doing better. So thankful for that and praises to God,” she said.
Calls for staff emergency training
The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT) confirmed a passenger experienced a medical emergency aboard the Buccoo Reef vessel in a statement on Thursday.
In response to queries from the Express, the authority said it was unable to comment on the specific medical condition of the passenger.
In a statement, PATT said: “The vessel’s crew responded immediately and provided assistance.”
It added that emergency protocols were activated and the vessel returned to port, accompanied by the Coast Guard.
“Ambulance personnel were already on standby at the Port of Spain terminal and attended to the passenger immediately upon the vessel’s arrival, before transporting the individual to hospital for medical care,” the statement said.
A video circulating on social media showed the passenger lying on the floor while another person performed CPR. The post claimed the woman complained of difficulty breathing before fainting aboard the vessel en route to Tobago.
However, a commenter who identified herself as the person who recorded the video disputed that account, stating: “Firstly, there were two doctors (not from the crew). Secondly, it wasn’t a faint, it could have been a heart attack or stroke. And don’t come for me (because) that video is mine.”
The commenter further described the incident as frightening, adding, “They need to train boat crew in first aid. Everyone was moving like headless chicken. But God is good.”
Chance also told the Express the staff on board should be properly trained in first aid to handle emergencies like this.
Others expressed concern and wished the passenger a full recovery.
