SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard medevaced a 70-year-old man from a 47-foot sailboat approximately 100 miles west of San Diego, Friday.
The master of the sailboat, Macondo, contacted Coast Guard Sector San Diego Joint Harbor Operations Center watchstanders at approximately 12:20 p.m. requesting assistance for an ill passenger who was displaying symptoms of severe dehydration.
Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter with a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) Team paramedic aboard to assist.
Once on scene, the Jayhawk crew rescue swimmer entered the water and swam to the Macondo to assess the patient. The rescue swimmer and the patient then entered the water to create a safe distance between the sailboat's mast and the helicopter. The helicopter crew then lowered a rescue basket to hoist the patient into the helicopter, where the STAR Team paramedic rendered assistance.
The crew transported the patient to Sector San Diego and transferred him to awaiting medical personnel just after 4 p.m.
The patient was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center-Hillcrest and was reported to be in stable condition.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joel Guzman (archive).
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