The U.S. Coast Guard medically evacuated a mariner from a fishing vessel approximately 10 miles south of Crescent City, California, on Thursday.

A 35-year-old male crew member aboard the fishing vessel suffered a critical eye injury while transiting to Crescent City Harbor, which required immediate transport to a higher level of care.

Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders received the request for assistance over VHF channel 16 from the fishing vessel at 8 a.m. Thursday. After conferring with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac, watchstanders launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Air Station Humboldt Bay. The aircrew arrived on scene at 8:38 a.m. and deployed a rescue swimmer to the fishing vessel. The rescue swimmer stabilized the fisherman's injury and worked with the fishing vessel’s crew to prepare for the medevac. The aircrew then conducted a basket hoist and transferred the injured fisherman to the Coast Guard helicopter.

The Coast Guard aircrew transported the injured fisherman to Air Station Humboldt Bay to await emergency medical service personnel for transport to a nearby hospital.