Coast Guard medevacs fishing captain off Oahu
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard successfully medevaced a fishing captain off his boat 55-miles northeast of Oahu, Thursday.
“Cases like these are a great example of how our crews, both air and surface, work together with the common goal of assisting mariners,” said Lt. j.g. Jason Ortiz, command duty officer, Sector Honolulu. “The cutter crew was able to get on the vessel, help clear the deck for a successful hoist and will be staying with the vessel to ensure a safe return to port.”
An Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew hoisted the man from the 75-foot commercial fishing vessel, Lady Anna, and transported him to Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. He arrived in stable condition.
At 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, Sector Honolulu watchstanders received notification from the captain’s family reporting he was experiencing stroke-like symptoms. The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126) crew diverted from training and arrived on scene around 6:30 a.m., Thursday. The cutter crew launched a small boat and boarded the vessel allowing them to confirm the symptoms of a stroke and work with the command center watchstanders to arrange further swift transport. As the ship closed the distance to shore, the vessel crews cleared the deck to make space for the Dolphin crew to conduct the hoist safely.
Two crewmembers from the Gerczak are remaining aboard the Lady Anna to help the crew pilot the vessel back to port. The weather at the time of the case was reportedly winds of about 15 mph and seas of about 6 to 8 feet.
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