Coast Guard medevacs man from research vessel 111 miles southeast of South Padre Island

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Coast Guard medevaced a man suffering from severe back pains 111 nautical miles southeast of South Padre Island Thursday.

Watchstanders at Sector Corpus Christi received a report of a 46 year-old Canadian male suffering from back pains on-board the research vessel Viking Vanquish at 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday. The vessel was 111 nautical miles southeast of South Padre Island

An MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter and crew and an HU-25 Falcon jet with crew were dispatched from Air Station Corpus Christi to conduct the medevac. Due to the distance, the helicopter needed to refuel on the oil rig Perdido prior to conducting the rescue.

The man was airlifted to the Brownsville International Airport where emergency medical services transported him to the hospital. The man’s condition is unknown.