Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: May 02, 2008

Contact:  LTjg Dennis Moulder
(504) 393-6032

COAST GUARD HELICOPTER MEDEVACS STROKE PATIENT NEAR BARATARIA BAY

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medevaced a 52 year-old man from a vessel in Barataria Bay, about 25 miles southwest of Belle Chasse, early this morning.

A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans recieved a call around 5:00 a.m. from the Captain of the tug, Jane Mae Settoon, stating that one of his crewmen was experiencing numbness on the left side of his body and other signs of a possible stroke.  The Captain requested immediate medical assistance for the crewmember and relayed his position as being in the northernmost channel of Barataria Bay.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans launched an HH-65C rescue helicopter from Air Station New Orleans to facilitate evacuation of the man and transport him to medical care.  The HH-65C arrived on scene and deployed a rescue swimmer to the tug in order to assess the man's condition and prepare him for transport.  The patient had deteriorated to the point that he could no longer use the left side of his body.  The helicopter crew conducted a rescue basket hoist of the man and transported him in stable condition to West Jefferson Hospital.

Video and photo of the rescue are available by contacting Petty Officer Tom Atkeson at 504-671-2020.

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U.S. Coast Guard - Saving lives since 1790