HOUSTON — A 34-year-old man was medevaced Monday afternoon after he fell and lost feeling in the left half of his body approximately 35 miles off the coast of Galveston.
The captain of the New Buccaneer, an 85-foot fishing boat, contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston at 1:10 p.m. to report the man's condition and ask for assistance.
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 the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for immediate medical care.
"This case illustrates the importance of recognizing emergency symptoms and making the call if there is any doubt," said Lt. Spencer Roach, a command duty officer at Sector Houston-Galveston. "The captain of the boat did the right thing by contacting the Coast Guard as soon as possible. In a medical emergency at sea, seconds count."