What Crew Members Say About Maersk-Monte-Azul

In a remarkable rescue operation, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew successfully medevaced a crew member from the container ship 'Monte Azul' approximately 40 miles off the coast of South Padre Island on September 27, 2014. The incident unfolded when Sector Corpus Christi Command Center received a distress call around 6:30 p.m. regarding a 24-year-old foreign male crew member suffering from appendicitis. Due to the ship's initial location, it was initially beyond the operational range of nearby helicopters. However, the diligent watchstanders at the Coast Guard's 8th District promptly advised the 'Monte Azul' to alter its course toward South Padre Island. They then established a rendezvous point 40 miles offshore with the ship’s captain. At 10 p.m., an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter from Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi was dispatched for the mission. After a refueling stop in Brownsville, the aircrew met with the 'Monte Azul' and deployed their rescue swimmer to assist the ailing crew member. With the cooperation of the ship's crew, the Coast Guard team successfully stabilized the patient and hoisted him aboard the helicopter using a rescue basket. The crew member was subsequently transported to Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, where he was reported to be in stable condition. This operation highlights the dedication and swift response of the Coast Guard in providing critical medical assistance at sea.