SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard medically evacuated a 57-year-old man from a diving vessel approximately 115 miles west of San Diego, Wednesday.
At approximately 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diego received a report from the crew of the vessel Peace that a 57-year-old male diver was experiencing labored breathing after surfacing from a free dive with a snorkel. A paramedic onboard administered oxygen.
The Coast Guard duty flight surgeon recommended that the patient be medically evacuated and taken to a hospital for emergency care.
A Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was immediately launched, arrived on scene, and safely hoisted the man at 1 p.m.
At approximately 2:15 p.m., the Jayhawk crew returned to Sector San Diego, where he was transferred to awaiting EMS.
He was taken to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest.