HOUSTON — The Coast Guard medevaced a diver approximately 70 miles off the Galveston coast in the vicinity of the Flower Garden Bank on Tuesday.
Watchstanders at Sector Houston-Galveston received a call at approximately 11 a.m. from a crewmember on board the 100-foot dive boat Fling, reporting that a 64-year-old male diver was experiencing bend-like also known as decompression sickness symptoms. The diver was engaged in an 80-foot dive and completed a rapid ascent. Following his ascent he began experiencing dizziness.
A Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65C rescue helicopter crew was launched and the Coast Guard Cutter Manta, homeported in Freeport, was diverted to the dive boat’s last reported position.
The man was hoisted by the rescue helicopter crew and medevaced to Mainland Hospital in Texas City. He was last reported to be in stable condition.
