Coast Guard medevacs ailing mariner from cargo ship

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SAN DIEGO — An aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego conducted a medical evacuation of a crewman who was suffering from possible appendicitis aboard a cargo ship approximately 210 miles southwest of San Diego, Tuesday evening.

The 27-year-old man was transported safely to Sector San Diego and transferred to emergency medical personnel for further care.

The crew of the motor vessel Lotus, a 620 foot ship, contacted the Coast Guard at 10 a.m. Monday, requesting a medevac for the man who was experiencing symptoms of appendicitis.

The ship was approximately 550 miles southwest of San Diego at the time of the initial call. A Coast Guard flight surgeon was consulted and recommended a helicopter medevac as soon as the ship was within range. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched from Sector San Diego at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Once on scene, the helicopter crew hoisted the man into the aircraft and transported him to Sector San Diego, arriving at 9 p.m.

“Hoisting a patient from a moving vessel more than 200 miles offshore in bad weather is always a challenging mission,” said Lt. Cmdr. Maurice Murphy, the Pilot in Command during the medevac. “Despite the risks, saving lives at sea is what we do. This is what we train for.”

A C-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Sacramento also flew in support of the medevac.




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