D8 External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard
News Release
Coast Guard rescues man from fishing vessel near Port Aransas
**Video available**
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard rescued a man from a charter fishing vessel after he suffered medical complications, Wednesday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a call via radio from the Dolphin Express at approximately 9:15 a.m. The captain of the vessel requested a medical evacuation of a 75-year-old male passenger who was having difficulty breathing. Paramedics onboard the vessel helped to stabilize the man until the Coast Guard arrived.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., Coast Guard Station Port Aransas launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium and crew, and Air Station Corpus Christi launched an MH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter and crew.
The rescue helicopter and RB-M arrived on scene, which was approximately 35 miles offshore of Port Aransas. The helicopter rescue swimmer was lowered to the 75-foot vessel using a direct deployment method. He was hoisted to the helicopter in a stokes liter. The rescue swimmer kept the man stabilized and provided oxygen during the transit to shore.
The man was transferred to Spohn Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.
“Hoisting from a small boat deck can be extremely challenging,” said Lt. Bill Haywood, an rescue helicopter pilot at Air Station Corpus Christi. “The professionalism shown by the charter boat crew helped make this a smooth and safe transfer from the boat to helicopter, ultimately saving the man’s life.”
Click the image for video of this rescue.
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