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Coast Guard medevacs 2 from tanker off Sabine, Texas

December 21, 2016

Editor's Note: Correction clarifying both men were initially taken to the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Coast Guard crews medevaced two men after they were struck by a pressurized object and suffered injuries aboard a tank ship about 20 miles off the Texas Point Wildlife Refuge Wednesday afternoon.

The crew of the tanker United Ambassador contacted Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur watchstanders, who alerted Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders at 2:35 p.m., reporting a 24-year-old man was struck in the head by a pressurized part causing bleeding and unconsciousness and a 42-year-old man's nose was broken.  At approximately 2:45 p.m., watchstanders diverted an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Houston and launched a 45-foot response boat from Station Sabine.

Once on scene, the helicopter and boat crews assessed the situation and decided to transfer the man with the head injury to the helicopter and the man with the broken nose was transferred to the response boat.

Both men were taken to The Medical Center of Southeast Texas. The 42-year-old is in stable condition. Due to severity of his injuries The 24-year-old was transferred to Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital and was reportedly breathing but unconscious.

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