PORT RICHEY, Fla. – Coast Guard rescue crewmembers and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) joined forces to medically evacuate a 47-year-old male near the Pithlachascotee River, Saturday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a call from emergency services at 9:40 p.m., Saturday, requesting medical assistance for a 47-year-old male who suffered a back injury. The man was aboard a 17-foot recreational craft with his wife when their vessel ran aground just north of the Pithlachascotee River.
While attempting to free the vessel from shore, the man reportedly fell into his vessel’s propeller.
Coast Guard Station Sand Key deployed a 25-foot rescue boat crew while officers from the FWC diverted to assist. The FWC located the distressed crew at 10:45 p.m. and assisted both people.
FWC transferred the injured man and his wife to the Coast Guard rescue boat crew. The Coast Guard boat crew then medically evacuated the man and his wife to awaiting emergency medical services at Sunset Marina at 11:30 p.m. EMS transported the injured man to a local hospital.
