Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 file photo
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a call on VHF marine radio Channel 16 at approximately 7:15 a.m. from a crew member on board the 34-foot fishing vessel reporting a fellow crew member suffered a head injury.
Watchstanders dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and the Coast Guard Cutter Decisive (WMEC-629), a 210-foot cutter homeported in St. Petersburg to respond.
The MH-60 aircrew arrived on scene and lowered a rescue swimmer. The rescue swimmer reported the injured man to be unresponsive and appeared to be deceased.
The cutter Decisive crew and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach escorted the fishing vessel to station Fort Myers Beach where Marine Casualty Investigating Officers from Sector St. Petersburg conducted a marine casualty inspection and were assisted by Coast Guard Investigative Services, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
