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.
