​Cardiac arrest on board: What the crew must do immediately

According to the sea rescue service, volunteers from the Neustadt/Holstein station were called out on 12 July 2026 to assist a 60-year-old skipper who had apparently suffered a cardiac arrest on the Baltic Sea.

At around 12 noon, an urgent emergency call came in to the German Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Bremen, operated by the DGzRS: A 60-year-old man had collapsed on board his motorboat, which was around 15 metres long, and had apparently suffered a cardiac arrest. At the time, he was approximately half a nautical mile south of the port of Neustadt/Holstein on the Baltic Sea. His wife was also on board and began resuscitation efforts.

The crew of the rescue boat “Henrich Wuppesahl”, based at the DGzRS station in Neustadt/Holstein, were alerted immediately and were ready for action within a few minutes. In addition to their own crew, the sea rescue team took a team from the land-based ambulance service on board, including an emergency doctor and a paramedic.

After just ten minutes or so, the rescue boat came alongside the man’s motorboat. The medical staff boarded the boat and took over the resuscitation efforts. An acquaintance of the skipper, who had also learnt of the incident earlier, had since arrived at the scene in his own boat and took the patient’s motorboat in tow. Together, they all headed for the nearby harbour, where the man, who was in a critical condition, was handed over to an ambulance and taken to hospital.

An emergency like this should serve as a reminder to every skipper and crew member to review their own knowledge of heart attacks and cardiac arrest. Here are the key facts:

Increased risk in hot weather

People with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions and older people, in particular, are at greater risk of heart failure. This is all the more true in extreme heat, as this places an additional strain on the cardiovascular system. To find out how you can protect yourself from excessive heat, see our Speciality items.

What’s more, little gadgets in a yacht’s range of equipment can make life noticeably easier. We’ve listed 15 of them in this article compiled.

Heart attack or cardiac arrest

In such cases, it is important for skippers and crew to be able to distinguish between a heart attack and cardiac arrest so that they can respond appropriately.

​Typical symptoms of a heart attack

• Severe pain, a feeling of pressure or tightness behind the breastbone
• Pain that radiates into the left or right arm, shoulder, back, neck, jaw or upper abdomen
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Paleness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Severe weakness or a sudden feeling of impending doom (‘fear of death’)

Important: In women, older people and those with diabetes, the symptoms may be atypical. Sometimes shortness of breath, nausea or severe fatigue are the main symptoms, without any pronounced chest pain.

Emergency measures on a pleasure boat

1. Stay calm and make an emergency call

• Call for help via VHF radio (Mayday or Pan-Pan, depending on the situation) on Channel 16 or by mobile phone on 112.
• Please specify the position as accurately as possible.
• ​You can find out how to send a Mayday in our Speciality items.

2. Secure the boat

• Slow down or stop.
• Engage the autopilot or let another skipper take the helm.
• If necessary, head for the nearest port or emergency assembly point.

3. Positioning patients correctly

• Keep the upper body slightly raised.
• Loosen any tight clothing.
• To provide peace and warmth.

5. Avoid physical exertion

• The person concerned should neither walk nor work nor drive.

6. Monitor vital signs

• Check their consciousness and breathing regularly.
• Don’t leave those affected on their own.

7. In the event of loss of consciousness

• If the person is breathing normally: place them in the recovery position.

​ 8. Medicines

• If the person concerned has their own heart medication (e.g. nitro spray), they may use it as prescribed by their doctor.
• Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should only be administered if the person concerned is conscious, has no known allergy or severe bleeding tendency, and there are no known medical contraindications. If in doubt, calling the emergency services immediately takes priority.

Typical symptoms of cardiac arrest

​Cardiac arrest usually occurs suddenly. Those affected typically show the following signs:

• Sudden collapse
• Unconsciousness; no response to verbal stimuli or pain stimuli
• Abnormal breathing (no breathing or only sporadic, gasping breaths, known as gasping for breath)
• No detectable pulse (checking your pulse is not recommended for members of the public)
• Pale or bluish skin, particularly on the lips and fingers

Important: Gasping for breath is not normal breathing and must be treated as if it were respiratory arrest.

​The brain can only tolerate a lack of oxygen for about three minutes before damage is likely to occur. That is why rapid assistance is vital. This can also work well at sea. The report also illustrates just how tightly co-ordinated the rescue chain at sea is how the DGzRS operates in the event of medical emergencies at sea.

Immediate first aid on board – without a defibrillator (AED)

1. Make an emergency call, Secure the boat

• The same measures apply as described above for a heart attack

2. Check consciousness and breathing

• Speak to them in a loud voice and gently shake them by the shoulders.
• Monitor your breathing for no more than 10 seconds.

3. Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately

• 30 firm chest compressions in the centre of the chest.
• Print depth approximately 5 to 6 cm.
• Rate: 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
• Followed by 2 rescue breaths, if you are able to do so and it is possible.
• Anyone who is unable or unwilling to perform rescue breathing should continue to perform chest compressions.
• ​If there are several helpers, those performing CPR should take turns approximately every two minutes to maintain the quality of the chest compressions.

4. Continue with resuscitation

Continue without stopping until:

• professional help is provided,
• the person is breathing normally again or moving,
• or the helper is completely physically exhausted.

Emergency first aid on board – using a defibrillator (AED)

The steps are initially the same as those without an AED. The background article explains more about using a defibrillator When a defibrillator on board really helps.

In addition:

1. Use an AED

• ​use an automated external defibrillator (AED or ‘defib’ for short), if one is available on board.
• ​Switch on the device and follow the voice prompts.
• The device automatically analyses whether a shockable rhythm, such as ventricular fibrillation, is present, and only delivers a shock if this is the case. Consequently, incorrect use in the event of a non-shockable rhythm is virtually impossible.
• ​The person’s upper body should be as dry as possible so that the electrodes stick. If the person is lying in a puddle of water, first-aiders must not stand in the same puddle when administering the shock.

2. Continue resuscitation immediately

• Immediately after the shock, or if a shock is not recommended, resume chest compressions straight away.
• It is only after about two minutes that the AED prompts the user to carry out the next analysis.

Important: In the event of a cardiac arrest, every minute counts. Three actions are crucial: call for help immediately, start chest compressions straight away and – if available – use the AED as soon as possible.

Should an AED be standard equipment on larger sailing yachts and in every club marina, or is proper CPR training more important? Share your thoughts and experiences on board in the comments.