Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Nov. 1, 2009

Contact:  Petty Officer 3rd Class Renee C. Aiello
(713) 578-3080

Coast Guard medevacs two men following helicopter crash in Gulf of Mexico

HOUSTON— The Coast Guard medevaced two men following a helicopter crash in the Gulf of Mexico, Sunday.

Watchstanders at Sector Houston-Galveston received a call at approximately 10:50 a.m. from the helicopter leasing company Rotorcraft, reporting that one of its helicopters had crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.  The helicopter was reported to have gone down in the vicinity of rig number 442A, which is approximately 75 miles southeast off the Galveston coast.  The helicopter was carrying one pilot and a passenger at the time it crashed.

The offshore supply vessel Amy Louis was in the vicinity of the helicopter's last reported position and immediately made its way to the scene. The crew of the Amy Louis arrived on scene and took both men aboard the vessel to await further transportation. 

A Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin helicopter was launched from Coast Guard Air Station Houston to medevac both men.  The men were reported to have sustained severe back injuries.

The Dolphin helicopter crew medevaced the men to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

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