"The medal, For Strengthening Comradeship-in-Arms, was awarded them on the Russian Defense Minister's decree," said our informant before he made a retrospect.
The "Vassili Tatischev", a liaison vessel of the Baltic Fleet, was on mission in the open sea, October 2002, when seaman Dmitri Golov had an attack of appendicitis. The man felt worse with every passing instant, and there was no chance for urgent surgery on board, with rough weather. The captain determined to deliver Golov to a British hospital. The Royal Navy rescue center in Kinloss, Scotland, was alerted, and a helicopter dispatched to the "Tatischev". It was hard to take the patient on board the copter in the stormy sea, but the pilots and paramedics were top-notch-and they did it! Once in hospital, Dmitri went throughsurgery at once, and soon recovered.
The Baltic Fleet Command will now use international channels to determine arrangements on which the British rescuers will receive their awards, added the press service officer.
