Coast Guard medevacs man 48 miles offshore of Sanibel Island, Florida

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay 305-965-4672 PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

Coast Guard medevacs man 48 miles offshore of Sanibel Island, Florida

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Coast Guard medevaced a man 48 miles offshore of Sanibel Island, Florida, Wednesday.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew hoisted a 53-year-old man from a 30-foot fishing vessel and transported him to Tampa General Hospital for treatment.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center watchstanders were notified by the fishing vessel crew that the master of the boat had recently had heart surgery and had symptoms of difficulty breathing, blurry vision, and dizzy spells. The Coast Guard District 7 duty flight surgeon recommended a medevac, and the watchstanders diverted the Jayhawk helicopter aircrew who were already airborne on a training flight.

Florida Fish and Wildlife were also on-scene and assisted with preparing the man to be airlifted. The fishing vessel crew was able to safely navigate the vessel back to port.

"The crew did a great job working together and thinking creatively to get the patient off the boat that didn't have a lot of room for hoisting," said Lt. j.g John Martin, the Jayhawk helicopter co-pilot. "We're glad to have the help of Florida Fish and Wildlife and the fact that the captain was ready for us made everything go smoother."

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-USCG-