Coast Guard Medevacs Two from Tug Near Norfolk, Va.

The Coast Guard medevaced two crewmembers from the Elizabeth Anne, a 99-foot tug, Thursday, in the Elizabeth River approximately three miles southwest of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

A crewmember aboard the Elizabeth Anne contacted Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 at approximately 7:45 a.m., reporting a parted chain injured two crewmembers.

Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders dispatched a crew aboard a 25-foot Response Boat - Small from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth to assist.

The RB-S crew arrived on scene at approximately 8 a.m. and removed the two crewmembers.

"The crew worked seamlessly together to stabilize the victim," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Linden Hannon, a crewmember aboard the RB-S from Station Portsmouth. "It was a complex evolution to move the victim from the galley to the aft deck that required all of the tugboat's crew as well as the Coast Guard crew to safely execute."

The RB-S crew took them to Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, where they were met by an awaiting ambulance crew.

"There was excellent coordination between the Coast Guard and Portsmouth emergency medical services personnel," said Petty Officer 1st Class Brent Massey, a search and rescue coordinator at Sector Hampton Roads. "The training of the Station Portsmouth crew allowed them to assess the patient's injuries and safely transport the crew to shore. Having the ambulance crew waiting at the nearby base ensured the injured crew received medical attention in a timely manner."

One person was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk and the other crewmember was taken to Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth.

uscgnews.com