Coast Guard Medevacs Man After Fall on Tug

A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a 60-year-old crewman suffering from a possible head injury and uncontrolled bleeding aboard a tug 120 miles southwest of New Orleans yesterday evening. The Coast Guard was notified at 4:00 p.m. by the tug El Toro Grande that Douglas Plaisance from Cut Off Louisiana had fallen and hit his head. Due to a previous medical condition, the crew was unable to stop the bleeding and was concerned about the possibility of a severe head injury. A helicopter from Air Station New Orleans was dispatched to the scene where the crew lowered a rescue swimmer and basket to the tug. The patient was placed into the basket and brought aboard the helicopter for transfer to a local hospital. Once aboard the helicopter, the crew transported Plaisance to Terrebone General Hospital in stable condition.