CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Coast Guard aircrew conducted a medevac of a 42-year-old man off a charter fishing boat about 27 miles offshore of Port Aransas Saturday afternoon.
At approximately 2 p.m., a crewmember aboard the Dolphin Express contacted Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders via VHF marine channel 16 from stating a passenger aboard their boat was discovered face down, unresponsive and coming in and out of consciousness.
Watchstanders launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Corpus Christi and a boatcrew aboard a Station Port Aransas 45-foot response boat. The man was hoisted aboard the helicopter and transported to Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi.
“The crew expertly performed their duties without hesitation which made this complex evolution safe and successful for the survivor and aircrew," said Lt. j.g. Gregory Bukata, a pilot on the rescue helicopter. “The efforts and coordination between our command center staff and the boat’s captain undoubtedly aided in getting the man quick medical attention.”
This was Bukata’s first live medevac as the pilot at the controls.