Navy plays good Samaritan in high sea delivery

Ranil Wijayapala

Kankesanthurai: The Sri Lanka Navy helped a mother in labour deliver her child during a voyage from Trincomalee to KKS aboard a charter vessel of the Essential Services Commissioner.

Anantha Kumar Jasotha, was in an advanced state of pregnancy when boarding the passenger vessel MV Green Ocean and went into labour while sailing.

A resident of Ananthai, Point Pedro, she was among the 193 passengers on board the vessel.

She developed labour pains at around 4 pm on June 7 when the ship set off from Point Pedro on its journey from Trincomalee to Kankesanthurai.

The Captain of the ship an ex-sailor, Stephen Perera was informed about Jasotha by members of the crew and made arrangement for the baby's safe delivery.

Perera, a veteran ship Captain experienced in medicare assisted by a medical student on board the ship facilitated the delivery of the baby and immediately contacted Commander of Eastern Naval area to convey the news of the new passenger on board.

Perera told the Daily News that he was instructed to contact Commander Northern Naval area and was later connected to Navy Doctor Lt. Wickremasinghe through a satellite phone and received instructions on how to treat the mother following the safe delivery of the baby girl.

"The doctor gave me clear instructions on how to treat the mother as her placenta did not come out after the baby's delivery," Perera added. Everything was ready at the KKS harbour when the ship docked at exactly 6 pm.

The Navy medical doctor found the mother and infant in good condition and were rushed to the Thelippalai Government Hospital in a navy ambulance. "The credit should go to the Navy for it is they who helped save the mother as she was in greater danger after the delivery of the baby," Captain Perera who had the same experience in September 2001 too when serving the ship City of Trinco.