Coast Guard aircrew medevacs 59-year-old stroke victim off Galveston

U.S. Coast Guard District 8 PADET Houston
Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann

Date: 09.05.2013
Posted: 09.05.2013 16:15
News ID: 113137
Coast Guard medevacs stroke victim off Galveston

HOUSTON – A Coast Guard aircrew medevaced a 59-year-old man from a tanker 12 miles off Galveston, Thursday.

The agent for the 577-foot tanker contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston at 11:15 a.m., reporting that a crewmember was suffering stroke-like symptoms.

An Air Station Houston aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter medevaced the man to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

"Everything went super smooth," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Wilson. "Everything we do is standardized, so when it's time to go, we go."

"The crew of the tanker was phenomenal," said Lt. Jeremy Loeb, the helicopter pilot. "They set their course properly and made it incredibly easy for us to conduct the rescue."