Coast Guard Crews Rescue Tanker Crewman

A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew evacuated an ailing mariner from a tanker vessel approximately 50 nautical miles north of San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, early Tuesday morning.

The helicopter crew safely transported the man to emergency medical services at Centro Medico Hospital in San Juan.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan command center watchstanders received a request for assistance from the crew of the 600-foot tanker Champion Cornelia early Monday morning while the vessel was approximately 300 nautical miles north of Puerto Rico. The vessel was directed to proceed to San Juan to place it within distance to evacuate the crew member by helicopter. A helicopter and aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen were dispatched to conduct the rescue once the vessel was within range.

The aircrew rendezvoused with the tanker vessel and safely hoisted the 47 year old mariner, who had suffered a suspected stroke.

"Thanks to the swift and professional coordination between the watchstanders in Sector San Juan, Air Station Borinquen, and crew of M/T Champion Cornelia, my crew was able to hoist this individual and deliver him safely to Centro Medico in San Juan for treatment," said, Lt. Dan Eyer, a pilot from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen.

Weather on scene was reported as three to five-foot seas with 11 mph winds.

uscgnews.com