The Coast Guard medevaced the captain of a commercial fishing vessel 80 miles offshore Hilo, Hawaii, on Friday.
Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders received a phone call from the captain of the 78-foot fishing vessel Sea Angel, which was approximately 675 miles northeast of Hilo. The captain, a 68-year-old man, had reportedly been experiencing severe symptoms, such as abdominal pain and fever, for the past 10 days.
After conferring with the duty flight surgeon, watchstanders established a regular communication schedule with the vessel’s crew and directed them to transit toward Hawaii. Coast Guard Fourteenth District and Coast Guard Base Honolulu personnel procured antibiotics, which an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers successfully dropped to the Sea Angel at 1:07 p.m. Wednesday.
On Friday, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point arrived on scene with the Sea Angel, hoisted the patient, and transported him to Hilo Medical Center. He was reportedly in stable condition.
Additionally, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew provided communication and translation support during the hoist.
