Kris Vanleeuwan (left), a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) Team paramedic, assists a 91-year-old man aboard a Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter off the coast of San Diego Sept. 19, 2019. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley.)
SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard medevaced a 91-year-old man from a commercial fishing boat approximately 25 miles south of Point Loma, Thursday.
The 90-foot fishing boat Royal Star, contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center watchstanders at approximately 11:50 a.m. requesting assistance for a passenger who was displaying symptoms of a stroke.
Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter with a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) Team paramedic aboard to assist.
Once on the scene, the Jayhawk crew lowered the rescue swimmer to the Royal Star to assess the patient. The helicopter crew then lowered a stretcher to hoist the patient into the helicopter.
The crew transported the patient to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
The patient was reported to be in stable condition.
“Today’s case highlighted how our training allows our crews to work efficiently and effectively with other agencies,” said Lt. Catherine Durand, the Jayhawk copilot for the medevac. “The STAR paramedic aboard integrated with our crew seamlessly to quickly hoist the patient into the helicopter, provide higher-level care and safely transfer him to the hospital.”
