A Coast Guard helicopter crew medevaced a man with reported heart-attack symptoms from the 35-foot Fish Tale II more than 35 miles west of Oregon’s Columbia River entrance Nov. 8.
Watchstanders received a radio call from the Fish Tale II, a charter fishing boat out of Ilwaco, Wash., at 10:41 a.m., requesting assistance for a man who reportedly was having chest pains and other possible heart-attack symptoms.
Winds of 8 to 10 mph and 6- to 8-foot seas were reported. Rescuers instructed the captain of Fish Tale II to continue to run his boat at a steady pace to provide a stable platform for the rescue basket.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria was diverted from training. The crew safely hoisted the 35-year-old man and took him to the air station, where he was transferred to emergency medical personnel.
“This was a quick but challenging rescue operation due to limited space on board the boat,” said Lt. Rob McCabe, the MH-60 Jayhawk pilot on the medevac. “However, with the help of the boat crew and the professionalism of our crew we were able to identify and overcome any obstacles and safely hoist the man from the vessel.”
