NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard medevaced a crewmember from a tanker vessel, Wednesday, about 60 miles southwest of Grand Isle in the Gulf of Mexico.
Rescued was Rafael Katzen of Argentina.
At approximately 10 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans command center received a distress relay from an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft and crew from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., reporting that an electrician aboard the M.Y. Atlantic reportedly fainted while working in the engine room.
An MH-65C helicopter and crew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans was deployed and hoisted the crewmember from the 498-foot vessel and transported him to Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma.
“He apparently passed out, so we sent our rescue swimmer down to triage and check his pulse,” said Lt. j.g. Craig Johnston, Air Station New Orleans co-pilot. “After we hoisted him up, he regained consciousness.”
His condition is unknown.
The Coast Guard recommends all mariners have a VHF-FM marine-band radio set to channel 16 on their vessel. Marine-band radios are more reliable than cell phones for contacting emergency response personnel.
USCG file photo
