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U.S. Coast Guard photos by Fireman Haylee Averett.
SEATTLE — Two Coast Guard crews medevaced an injured diver near Patos Island, Eastsound, Washington, Tuesday.
The 22-year-old man was transferred to Virginia Mason Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Bellingham received a phone call at 1:15 p.m. from the crew of the fishing vessel Teresa Jean reporting that a diver was suffering from decompression sickness after returning to the surface from a dive too quickly.
A 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crew immediately launched to assist.
Station Bellingham crewmembers notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle. They contacted the duty flight surgeon, who recommended the medevac.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles was diverted from training to assist.
The RB-M boatcrew arrived on scene around 1:41 p.m. and transferred the diver to their vessel. The Dolphin crew arrived on scene less than 10 minutes later and safely hoisted the diver into the helicopter.
The diver was transferred to EMS at Virginia Mason Hospital around 2:30 p.m. His condition is unknown.
“My crew was on point during the helicopter operations,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class David Lopez, coxswain, Station Bellingham. “The regular training we conduct with Air Station Port Angeles definitely helped us safely hoist the individual to get him medical assistance as quickly as possible.”