CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard rescued a 55-year-old man Saturday, who was suffering from chest pains while out on a charter boat approximately 22 miles northeast of Port Mansfield, Texas.
At approximately 11:20 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Station South Padre Island received a VHF radio call from the captain of the 55-foot charter boat, the Osprey II, requesting assistance. The captain stated that there was a gentleman aboard who was suffering from chest pains and he was going in and out of consciousness.
Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi diverted an aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Corpus Christi and launched a boatcrew aboard a response boat from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island.
When the helicopter arrived on scene, the aircrew lowered their rescue swimmer and hoisted the man. He was then placed on oxygen for the transit to Valley Regional Medical Center in Harlingen where he was in stable condition. The response boat was able to take aboard the man’s brother and transport him back to shore as well.
“We put our training to use today,” said Lt. j.g. Gregory Bukata, the MH-65 Dolphin pilot. “I am honored to be the one to answer the call.”