CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A fishing vessel transported one of their crewmembers, who suffered a leg injury approximately 25 miles offshore of Port Mansfield, to awaiting ambulance in Port Isabel, Tuesday.
Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi received a distress call around noon from the captain of the fishing vessel Moon Glow stating that one of their crewmembers suffered the injury while working in the rigging.
A Coast Guard flight surgeon assisted the crew through steps to stabilize the man’s leg over the radio. The captain of the vessel then elected to head directly towards Port Isabel where the man was transferred to a waiting ambulance.
“Credit goes to the crew and captain of the Moon Glow for quickly deciding to head to port in order to get their crewmember to proper medical care,” said Cmdr. Daniel Deptula, chief of response, Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi. “Often times, the Coast Guard is the last resort for transporting critically injured mariners. However, when a crew decides to take action on their own, it can greatly minimize the risk for everyone involved. Though the Coast Guard is always ready to conduct an at-sea medevac of an injured person onto a boat or via helicopter hoist, that action will always add additional risk to the mission.”
The vessel and the injured crewmember were continuously monitored by the Coast Guard during their transit to port. The man was brought to Valley Baptist Medical Center in reportedly stable condition.