ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — U.S. Coast Guard crews medevaced a man from a boat about 223 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras.
Watchstanders from the U.S. Coast Guard Fifth District command center were alerted that a man aboard the CL Yingdu vessel was suffering from an eye injury and needed medical attention.
The command center consulted with a U.S. Coast Guard flight surgeon who recommended medical evacuation.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City were dispatched.
The MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew arrived on scene and deployed a rescue swimmer to conduct a hoist and medevac the man.
The patient was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for treatment.
“We generally hoist from the back of a vessel but because of a lack of suitable space for hoisting operations we had to hoist from the front, which essentially put the helicopter in a flying position that is unfamiliar to routine operations,” said Lt. j.g. Marissa Bonnefin, the MH-60 Jayhawk copilot. “We receive a variety of training and work alongside members who have valuable experience. As an aircew we were able to implement the training and knowledge that we each have into the evolution to safely conduct the mission.”
