CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Coast Guard medevaced three men from Rig Matagorda 632A about 30 miles northeast of Port Aransas, Texas, in two separate rescues yesterday.
A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a call for assistance at 6 a.m. from Rig 632A reporting they had two crewmembers onboard who had been injured on the nearby tug Smith Hunter.
The men were injured when the basket they were in tippped over during a hoist transfer between the Smith Hunter and a barge. One, a 29-year-old man, fell approximately five feet to the deck, the other, a 65-year-old man, fell approximately 10-15 feet landing on top of the first man.
Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi crews launched an HH-65B Dolphin helicopter to medevac the men. The rescue helicopter crew landed on the rig and loaded the two injured men on board. The injured men were transported to Spohn Memorial Trauma Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
At about 10:14 a.m. a watchstander at Sector Corpus Christi recieved another call from Rig 632A reporting that the Smith Hunter had transferred a 22-year-old crewman to the rig who was having a diabetic seizure. Air Station Corpus Christi crews launched an HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew to medevac the crewman.
The helicopter crew landed on the rig and loaded the man on board. He was also transported to Spohn Memorial Hospital.
All the men were reported to be in stable condition.
The second medevac was performed by the new HH-65 “Charlie” model helicopter. Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi is currently transitioning from the “Bravo” model helicopters to the upgraded “Charlie” models. The transition is expected to be completed sometime next week. More information on the new helicopter will be released in the near future.
This was the first rescue performed by the new helicopter in the South Texas area.
Technorati Tags: Coast Guard, medevac, Air Station Corpus Christi, Sector Corpus Christi, HH-65C, Dolphin, helicopter
