PHOTO AVAILABLE: Coast Guard medevacs diver 115 miles offshore of Galveston, Texas

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas Office: (281) 464-4810 After Hours: (832) 293-1293 PA Detachment Texas online newsroom

Coast Guard medevacs diver 115 miles offshore of Galveston, Texas

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HOUSTON —The Coast Guard medevaced a 54-year-old diver from a charter vessel approximately 115 miles offshore of Galveston, Texas, Saturday night.

Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report from a representative of the vessel Fling of a female passenger who reportedly began exhibiting symptoms of a heart attack. Watchstanders notified the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac. 

An Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew and a Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew were launched. 

Once on scene, a rescue swimmer was deployed to check on the condition of the passenger while the MH-65 refueled due to the distance offshore.

The woman was then hoisted and transported to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

"Through excellent coordination between multiple Coast Guard air assets, our command center and the crew of the Fling, all teams involved were able to work seamlessly to get the diver the medical assistance she needed from an area offshore where hoists are not routinely conducted," said Ensign Terrell Sisk, command duty officer at Sector Houston-Galveston.

The woman was reported to be in stable condition.

-USCG-