Coast Guard medevacs diver 20-miles southeast of Fire Island

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/26/2017 08:55 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

August 26, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York
Office: (212) 514-4291
After Hours: (917) 703-0983

Coast Guard medevacs diver 20-miles southeast of Fire Island

NEW YORK - Crews from Coast Guard Station Fire Island and EMT personnel from Suffolk County conduct a medevac of a man in Babylon, New York, on August 26, 2017. The man was diving 20 miles southeast of the Fire Island Inlet when he surfaced and had symptoms characteristic of the bends. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Station Fire Island) NEW YORK - Crews from Coast Guard Station Fire Island and EMT personnel from Suffolk County conduct a medevac of a man in Babylon, New York, on August 26, 2017. The man was diving 20 miles southeast of the Fire Island Inlet when he surfaced and had symptoms characteristic of the bends. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Station Fire Island)

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NEW YORK - A Coast Guard Station Fire Island boatcrew medevaced a diver Saturday afternoon, 20 miles southeast of the Fire Island Inlet.

At approximately 1:15 p.m. a crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Tempest notified watchstanders at Sector Long Island Sound via VHF-Channel 16 that a diver surfaced after about 15 minutes with symptoms characteristic of the bends.

The command center launched a boatcrew from Station Fire Island aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat and a Suffolk County EMT joined to assist with the medevac.

Watchstanders also diverted nearby Coast Guard Cutter Sitkinak, a 110-foot Patrol Boat, to provide on scene assistance.

The boatcrew conducted the medevac of the 59-year-old man at approximately 2:15 p.m. They returned to Station Fire Island and transferred him to awaiting EMS.

The diver was taken to Nassau University Hospital and as of 6:30 p.m., was listed in stable condition.

 

-USCG-