Coast Guard evacuates men from separate vessels off La Push

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, May 21, 2019

LA PUSH — A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew evacuated a 22-year-old man with a reported hand injury from a fishing vessel about 25 miles off the coast of La Push on Tuesday.

The man, who was not identified by authorities, was hoisted from the 254-foot vessel Phoenix by a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Port Angeles, Coast Guard officials said.

The mariner was flown to Port Angeles and taken by medics to Olympic Medical Center, according to a Coast Guard District 13 press release.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received an emergency call at 11:28 a.m. from a boater about 25 miles west of Coast Guard Station Quillayute River, the Coast Guard said.

A crew from the Coast Guard Cutter Cuttyhunk and a boat crew from Station Quillayute River responded but were unable to transfer the man due to high seas.

The aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles arrived at about 1 p.m. and completed the hoist, Coast Guard officials said.

The Coast Guard reported 12-knot winds and 11-foot seas at the time of the rescue.

Meanwhile, a Coast Guard Station Neah Bay crew evacuated another fisherman Tuesday who was reportedly experiencing abdominal pain.

Coast Guard watchstanders received a request for medical assistance at 2:58 p.m. from the 353-foot fishing vessel Excellence, which was in the same area as the Phoenix about 25 miles west of La Push, according to a news release.

The man was placed in a 47-foot motor lifeboat and transferred to awaiting emergency medical technicians on shore, Coast Guard officials said.

His condition was not immediately available.