Maersk-Monte-Azul

A US Coast Guard rescue helicopter crew medevaced a crew member of the "Monte Azul" approximately 40 miles offshore of South Padre Island late on Sep 27, 2014. The Coast Guard's 8th District watchstanders notified the Sector Corpus Christi Command Center at around 6:30 p.m. that a 24-year-old foreign male crew member aboard the container shipwas experiencing symptoms of appendicitis and requested to be taken off of the ship for treatment. The ship was originally beyond the range of responding helicopters. The watchstanders at the 8th District watchstanders requested the ship head toward South Padre Island and arranged a rendezvous location 40 miles offshore with the ship's captain. A Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter and crew were dispatched at 10 p.m. After refueling the helicopter in Brownsville, the aircrew met the "Monte Azul" and lowered their rescue swimmer to the deck of the ship to stabilize the crew member and hoist him with the rescue basket with the assistance of the crew. The crew member was being treated at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville and was reported to be in stable condition. Video: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/363336/coast-guard-aircrew-hoists-ailing-man-aboard-mh-65-dolphin-container-ship-off-south-padre-island-texas#.VCnLasjwDIU