Coast Guard 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement file photo.
MIAMI — The Coast Guard medevaced a 53-year-old man suffering from chest pains aboard an 80-foot shrimping vessel 1 mile south of Stock Island, Tuesday.
Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders received a distress call from the crew of the shrimping vessel via VHF-FM radio channel 16 at approximately 11 a.m. Watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Station Key West 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement crew who arrived on scene at approximately 11:05 a.m., embarked the patient and transferred him to local emergency medical services at Safe Harbor Marina.
“Communication on VHF-FM radio channel 16 communication is what made this rescue possible,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Parker York, a watchstander at Sector Key West. “We were able to determine the position, the condition of the patient, and send an asset to their location immediately while also being able to get other necessary and pertinent information.”
EMS transferred the patient to Lower Keys Medical Center.
