# Maritime and aeromedical rescues in South America

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/maritime-and-aeromedical-rescues-in-south-america
> Updated: 2026-10-03T17:09:44.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

In early September 2026, the Argentine Naval Prefecture conducted a medical evacuation near Mar del Plata to assist a 57-year-old Indonesian crew member aboard the Portuguese-flagged fishing vessel ‘Novo Virgem Da Barca’. The individual was reportedly suffering from stroke symptoms, including facial drooping and disorientation. The rescue involved an airplane and a helicopter deployed from the Mar del Plata Air Station to airlift the patient approximately 230 nautical miles outside Argentina's Exclusive Economic Zone.

By October 2026, reports indicated further aeromedical activity in the region. While the Chilean Air Force completed a mission to transport a patient from Antarctica to Punta Arenas, the Argentine maritime rescue of the Indonesian crew member was also noted as a significant operation involving a hoist maneuver to transport the patient to a medical facility.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-03: Chile and Argentina conduct successful aeromedical evacuations

Maritime and polar rescue operations were successfully conducted by Chilean and Argentine authorities to evacuate medical patients from Antarctica and the Atlantic Ocean.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chile-and-argentina-conduct-successful-aeromedical-evacuations

### 2026-09-09: Argentine Navy rescues crew member via helicopter near Mar del Plata

The Argentine Naval Prefecture performed an aerial medical evacuation of an Indonesian crew member from a Portuguese fishing vessel near Mar del Plata.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentine-navy-rescues-crew-member-via-helicopter-near-mar-del-plata

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Cite as: Maritime and aeromedical rescues in South America. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/maritime-and-aeromedical-rescues-in-south-america