Below The Deck
GENDARMERIE MARITIME DE POLYNéSIE FRAN?AISE
POLICE EXHIBIT ONE
Transcript of emergency call to Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Papeete, via VHF radio distress channel
Operator: Tahiti Maritime Rescue. Please state your vessel and the nature of your emergency.
Caller: Mayday, mayday. This is Captain Sophie Taylor of the Lusso di Mare, charter vessel TPF-773.
Current coordinates 16.54 degrees south, 151.
25 degrees west, sailing towards Raiatea, approximately three nautical miles east of the island.
We need immediate help!
Police – air ambulance – coastguard … whoever can get to us most quickly. I think— oh God, I think it’s too late.
Operator: Coordinates received. Please confirm, Captain: you are stating you have a serious injury on board? Is this correct?
Caller: Yes – one of the guests on this charter – I was just alerted to a commotion in the cabins. He’s suffered a major stab wound to the neck area – quick, Brett, get the defibrillator …
Operator: Captain, has medical assistance been attempted?
Caller: Yes. Hold on one moment. We’ve tried to stem the bleeding, and I carried out CPR straight away.
My first officer just got the defibrillator and we’ve …
stand clear! No …
he’s – I think he’s lost too much blood.
He’s stopped breathing. It’s too late. The passenger is … deceased.
Operator: Your passenger is deceased? Hold on, I’m dispatching immediate aid. Captain, did you say this was a stabbing? Have you managed to restrain the person responsible?
Caller: Yes – yes, of course. We will restrain the suspect in my quarters immediately.
Operator: Understood. Captain, please stay on the line. Captain, can I confirm the name of your vessel? Did you say the Lusso di Mare?
Caller: I … yes. I did.
Operator: Ah … I see the air ambulance has already been called out to you in relation to—
Caller: Yes, they have – I know, I know they have! But we still need the police – we need help, urgently. This is a separate matter. I’m trying to follow protocol here, but these are exceptional circumstances …
Operator: Try to stay calm, Captain. I understand.
We’ve already dispatched an air ambulance to your coordinates, and the Gendarmerie Maritime will arrive at the vessel by tender shortly.
In the meantime, please ensure the safety of all guests and crew aboard.
And please keep this channel open until we can reach you. Help is on the way.
[TRANSCRIPT ENDS]