LOS ANGELES – The Coast Guard medically evacuated a 25-year-old male experiencing numbness throughout his body after conducting a recreational open water dive near Santa Cruz Island, Sunday.
Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach watchstanders received a call from the 85-foot commercial dive vessel, Spectre, stating that an individual experienced numbness and tingling 45 minutes after completing a recreational dive.
The Coast Guard launched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Forward Operating Base Point Mugu along with members of the National Parks Service to assist the individual.
The National Parks Service crew arrived on scene at 1:45 p.m., safely transferred the man aboard their vessel and immediately began administering oxygen.
The Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene shortly after safely hoisting the individual and successfully transported the patient, in stable condition, to Catalina Island’s hyperbaric chamber for emergency medical treatment.
The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.