ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard medevaced a man from a commercial fishing vessel approximately 75 miles west of the Columbia River entrance, Saturday.
Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report at approximately 8:35 p.m., Friday, indicating one of two men aboard the 52-foot commercial fishing vessel Melville had fallen and sustained a serious head injury approximately 90 miles west of the Columbia River entrance.
Sector Columbia River maintained communications with the vessel’s one remaining healthy crewmember to monitor the ailing man’s condition and launched a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to assist.
The helicopter crew arrived on scene and lowered a rescue swimmer into the water near the vessel. The vessel’s deck was not yet clear for a safe transfer of gear or personnel.
The rescue swimmer swam alongside Melville and was able to thrust himself up, wrap his fingers around the edge of the vessel and pull himself aboard.
The swimmer worked with the healthy crewmember aboard Melville to get the deck clear and prepare the injured man for a hoist.
The helicopter crew successfully hoisted the injured man to the helicopter and transported him to Air Station Astoria in Warrenton, Ore. He was placed in the care of local EMS and transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria.
The man was last reported to be in stable condition.
