A man died after going into cardiac arrest aboard a bulk carrier off Point Cook in Port Phillip Bay on Saturday.
A Newport firefighting crew was taken out to the ship by Williamstown water police. They tried to revive the man but were unsuccessful.
The ship originally sent a message saying it would bring the man in to the Royal Victorian Yacht Club, located next to Williamstown police station.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said given the man’s condition, the ship’s crew were advised not to move him. It was also deemed unsafe to winch the man up to an air ambulance helicopter.
Newport station officer Jason Russell said firefighters responded to the call at 10.15am, unaware the patient was still aboard a tanker moored at outer anchorage.
“Our crew proceeded with the police on the police launch out to the tanker,” he said.
“We organised for the ship to lower a gangplank to allow safe boarding of the vessel and at 10.57 we were aboard with the patient, and also an officer of Victoria Police from the police boat, where we commenced CPR on the man.
“We basically did CPR and oxygen therapy for about nine or 10 minutes until the ambulance got there.
“At 11.06, the air ambulance landed on the deck of the boat, at which time they came down to the patient and we continued to assist until 11.35, when it was called.”
The bulk carrier had been due to moor at the Port of Geelong later on Saturday.
International Transport Workers’ Federation representative, Matt Purcell, said the man was believed to be a 26-year-old Filipino who was a cadet on the Nectar, a tanker with a Bahamas flag.
Police are preparing a report for the Coroner.
