SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – The crew of a Coast Guard Station San Juan 45-foot response boat medically evacuated a crewman aboard the 948-foot cargo ship CSK Fortune Thursday in waters north of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The 29 year-old crewman reportedly was suffering from severe abdominal pains and required immediate medical attention ashore.
Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders received an INMARSAT satellite telecommunication from the master of the Hong Kong flagged cargo ship Wednesday night, who reported the incident.
“This case is a great example of the excellent cooperation between the Coast Guard and the marine industry,” said Cmdr. James Sutton, Sector San Juan chief of response. “The master of the vessel provided a detailed explanation of the crewmember’s medical condition allowing us to determine the best course of action to conduct the medevac. Station San Juan did an excellent job in transferring the patient ashore, in the safest and most effective manner, so he could receive the required urgent medical care.”
Coast Guard Station San Juan proceeded to launch a 45-foot response boat to conduct the medical evacuation at first light, approximately five nautical miles outside San Juan Harbor. Once on scene with the CSK Fortune, the Coast Guard crew embarked the patient and returned to Coast Guard Base San Juan, where they transferred the patient to awaiting Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel at approximately 7:25 a.m. Thursday. EMS personnel transported the patient to the Center Medico Hospital in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico to receive further medical care.
