An ailing crewmember was medically evacuated Friday from a fishing vessel operating 92 miles offshore Brunswick, Ga., the Coast Guard said.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston's command center received a notification from the operator of the 44-foot fishing vessel Still Fishing reporting that a 56-year-old male crewmember was experiencing symptoms related to a gastrointestinal ailment. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon, who recommended a medevac.
Given the vessel's distance from shore, watchstanders launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater to conduct the evacuation. The crew arrived on scene, hoisted the man aboard, and transported him to St. Simons Island Airport in Georgia, where he was transferred to EMS for further care.
"This case highlights the importance of teamwork across the Coast Guard," said Lt. Michael Allen, the Sector Charleston search and rescue mission coordinator for the case. "Our watchstanders did an exceptional job coordinating this medevac under challenging circumstances, and the Air Station Clearwater crew's rapid and professional response helped ensure this man received the care he needed as quickly as possible."
