Coast Guard Medevacs Man 120 Miles off Galveston

A 48-year-old man was medevaced Monday night after he was found to be experiencing heart attack symptoms aboard an off shore tug boat approximately 120 miles off Galveston.

Crewmembers aboard the tug contacted Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders at 8:25 p.m. to report the captain’s condition and ask for assistance aboard the 73-foot tug, Crosby Skipper.

The watchstanders launched an aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Houston to recover the man.

The aircrew transported him to Scholes International Airport in Galveston where Emergency Medical Services met him.

“Every second counts in any case we execute,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Robert B. Maddox, an operations specialist at Sector Houston-Galveston. “Especially with a case like this, occurring more than 100 miles offshore, the quicker we are notified of a medical emergency the better chances we have to assist any distressed mariners. The crewmembers having a means to communicate and contact us quickly, made the difference in saving a life.”