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© Gabriele François Casini/MSF
11 Jun 16

Podcast: "One day, 52 senseless deaths"

On this episode of Everyday Emergency, Canadian doctor Simon Bryant discusses his time on board an MSF search and rescue ship in the Mediterranean.

"One day, two wooden boats, one rubber dinghy, one helivac, over a thousand people rescued by three ships, and fifty-two perfectly senseless deaths."

Canadian doctor Simon Bryant discusses his time on board an MSF search and rescue ship in the Mediterranean.

The story heard in this week's episode comes from a blog Simon kept while aboard the Phoenix, a ship MSF ran in partnership with Migrant Offshore Aid Station.

"There was enough light from the small hatches, and my headlamp, to make out a tragic tangle of bodies. At that point training cut in and emotions took a back seat, though the adrenaline flowed..."

simon bryantmsf doctor

This extract is taken from 'Yet again', published 31 August 2015.

Read more about Simon's time on the Mediterranean in our 'Moving Stories' blog about the European refugee crisis.

Photos of Simon during his mission on board the Phoenix

Gabriele François Casini/MSF
Dr Simon Bryant assists in the transfer of 3 unconscious people from the wooden fishing boat to the Phoenix. Gasoline fumes caused many people to lose consciousness during the journey.
 

Taking a rest after a long day. The night sky is incredible in the middle of the sea. Thank you all so much for joining us today! For a recap of today’s events visit our live blog http://msf.ca/sea and keep up to date with the crew of the Phoenix on our blog http://blogs.msf.org/en/staff/blogs/moving-stories #MSFsea

A photo posted by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (@doctorswithoutborders) on

Jun 19, 2015 at 2:05pm PDT

Gabriele François Casini/MSF
On the morning of 26 August, the MY Phoenix, jointly operated by MSF and MOAS was asked to standby as the Swedish coast guard ship, Poseidon, rescued an estimated 450 people from a wooden boat. The MOAS crew handed out life jackets and the MSF medics were asked to assist directly on board as there were many critical cases. Dr Simon Bryant and nurse Mary-Jo Frawley went into the hull of the boat, where they were literally lifting people’s heads out of the water to check if they were alive. A critical patient suffering from suspected fuel inhalation was stabilized in the MSF clinic onboard the Phoenix and medevac'ed via helicopter for further treatment on land. At that point a second wooden boat carrying 550 people appeared and the MOAS search and rescue team immediately commenced rescued operations. More than 415 people were brought on the MY Phoenix, bringing the boat to capacity the remained 125 people were taken on board the Poseidon. Whilst this rescue was still underway, a rubber dinghy with an estimated 100 people on board arrived on the scene. The MOAS crew transferred the men, women and children on board to an Italian naval vessel, which was also on the scene. “ The deaths of these 52 people today show that search and rescue is just a bandaid. It is merely a temporary solution to Europe’s failures, and not even a truly effective one. Despite the increase in SAR efforts since late April, the death count still keeps mounting. The only way to actually put an end to these avoidable tragedies is to create safe and legal ways for people to migrate or seek asylum in Europe. People's desperation to flee and survive forces them into taking these dangerous boats, into the hands of people who profit from their willingness to risk it all in the search of safety of Europe. Today, just like yesterday, Europe’s policy makers have blood on their hands. It is time for a change, a radical rethink and we need it now” - Will Turner – MSF Emergency Coordinator on the MY Phoenix
 

After a long journey on the sea, people are typically hungry and dehydrated so we distribute food and water. We also distribute blankets to keep everyone on the Phoenix warm. It can get pretty cold during nights at sea. #MSFsea

A photo posted by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (@doctorswithoutborders) on

Jun 19, 2015 at 9:35am PDT

Gabriele François Casini/MSF
Medical doctor Simon Bryant visits a patient rescued earlier by the MOAS team. The wound was the consequence of a beating in Libya The clinic on board the Phoenix allows for a wide range of medical activities.

Video footage captured by the Swedish coastguard, 26 August 2015

 

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