Fisherman Medevaced near Cape Cod

A crewman was medically evacuated from a fishing boat by U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue crews 110 miles east of Cape Cod, Friday.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Boston Command Center received an urgent call from the fishing vessel Capt Joe stating that a 62-year-old crew member aboard was suffering from severe abdominal pain. Considering the potential severity of the man's condition and the distance from land, Sector Boston conferred with the 1st District Command Center who initiated the medevac.

Air Station Cape Cod was directed to launch two air crews, one aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to conduct the hoist, another aboard an HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft to provide communication and support coverage.

Despite winds gusting to 40-knots and seas reaching 10-15 feet, the Jayhawk crew safely hoisted the man aboard and transferred him to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

"The on-scene conditions were challenging," said Lt. Preston Hieb, the command duty officer at the Sector Boston Command Center. "Our crews train in all weather, and we're always to respond," he said.