USCG medevacs injured man from oil tanker off San Francisco coast

The U.S. Coast Guard says that its helicopter crew medevaced a 28-year-old man who was injured aboard an oil tanker off the coast of San Francisco, Tuesday morning.

At approximately 2:20 p.m. Monday, Coast Guard watchstanders received an email from the crew of the oil tanker High Progress about a member who reportedly fell and suffered a neck injury.

Due to aircraft limitations, a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew could not immediately be dispatched to recover the injured man. Watchstanders monitored the man’s condition while the oil tanker continued its course towards San Francisco.

At approximately 4:20 a.m., the Dolphin helicopter crew arrived on scene approximately 65 miles off the coast of San Francisco, hoisted the man and transported him to Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto.

“The quick reaction of the crew aboard High Progress to recognizing the severity of the injury was key in making this rescue successful,” said Lt. Andrew Bacon, Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 helicopter pilot. “Their professionalism helped us quickly get him off the ship.”