PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a Navy sailor Friday off the Virginia coast.
Watchstanders in the 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth received notification from the U.S. Navy Destroyer USS Bulkeley at about 2:20 p.m. that a sailor aboard was suffering from symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew launched from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, at about 3:24 p.m.
The aircrew arrived on scene with the Bulkeley at approximately 4:03 p.m.
The helicopter crew hoisted the sailor and transported him to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Portsmouth at about 5 p.m.
“Anytime there’s an injury or illness at sea, the situation has the potential to become serious simply due to being farther away from critical medical assistance,” said Lt. Christopher Pace, command duty officer for the case. “We were glad to help coordinate the medevac of our fellow servicemember and quickly get him to the care he needed.”
