Cape & Islands News

CG Helicopter rescues fisherman with heart attack

Heavy weather prevented on-deck rescue, basket lowered to hoist victim

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that a helicopter crew transported a man experiencing heart attack-like symptoms from a fishing boat 60 miles southeast of Nantucket,  to a Cape Cod, Mass., hospital, Wednesday night.

The rescue occurred in 6-foot seas southeast of Nantucket.The crew of the fishing vessel Monomoy contacted Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England at 11 p.m., reporting that a 46-year old crewman was experiencing severe chest pains, with tingling hands, clammy skin and heavy breathing and was in need of immediate medical attention.

The 1^st Coast Guard District Command Center conducted a conference call with the flight surgeon who recommended a medical evacuation.

An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod launched with a corpsman aboard. When performing a medevac, the helicopter crew always has a corpsman to administer first aid.

Corpsmen aboard helicopters are required to have some of the same vigorous training as the rest of the helicopter crew such as emergency egress, dunk tank and low pressure chamber training. Coast Guardsmen's experience, skills and training allow for quick action and an appropriate and efficient response to all maritime needs.

Due to the boat’s rigging and sea conditions, a rescue swimmer could not be lowered safely from the helicopter so the crew lowered a rescue basket to the deck of the boat where the man could climb in to be hoisted up to the helicopter.

"The conditions were definitely challenging but the entire crew did an outstanding job and we were able to hoist the crewmember aboard where our corpsman administered life-saving medications while en route to the hospital," said helicopter co-pilot Lt. j.g. Zephyr Mays.

The weather on scene was 11-knot winds with 6-foot seas.

Courtesy USCG.