Yesterday afternoon, Saturday 27 January, following a request of the general command of the Port Authorities, national coordinator of the rescue at sea, the destroyer Durand de la Penne and the frigate Bergamini they intervened for a medical evacuation.
The intervention of the helicopters of the two units of the Navy, in the area as part of the naval device of the operation Safe Sea, it was necessary to evacuate 3 adults and 6 children, rescued at sea by the NGO Aquarius, which presented untreatable pathologies on board. Once the patients recovered thanks to a complicated maneuver with the winch, the helicopters headed for Sfax, Tunisia.
Landed in Sfax, the patients were welcomed by the staff of the local hospital, able to treat the diseases found.
Today's activity is the result of the continuous and effective coordination under way between the Navy, the general command of the Port Authorities, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center of Tunis, and the office for the defense officer of the Italian embassy in Tunis.
The operation Safe Sea, in place from 12 March 2015, provides the deployment of a naval device with a mission of presence, surveillance and maritime security in the central Mediterranean, in application of national legislation and international agreements. The presence of the aeronaval device on the high seas ensures the protection of the interests of nations at sea and an adequate security framework for all the naval means of the State, and not, engaged in research, rescue and fishing activities.
