Coast Guard, doctor save heart attack victim aboard boat off Galveston

February 22, 2016

HOUSTON — The Coast Guard medevaced a diabetic man from a Galveston Party Boats catamaran while they were underway about 70 miles southeast of Galveston Saturday.

The captain of the catamaran, Cavalier, radioed to Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders at 2:19 p.m., stating that a 44-year-old passenger was suffering diabetic shock and had a heart attack. Another passenger aboard was a doctor and was able to keep the man stable until the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter arrived from Air Station Houston to medevac him about an hour and a half later.

"We are incredibly thankful that one of the passengers onboard the charter vessel was a doctor," said Lt. Melissa McCafferty, the command duty officer responsible for coordinating the rescue. "Because of this, he was able to rapidly identify the problem and stabilize the patient so the Coast Guard could effect a safe and orderly rescue and transport the individual to the closest hospital."

The man was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for further treatment. He was in stable condition.

The calm sunny day became hectic very quickly in the Coast Guard command center as this call and another came in at the same time. The other involved a boat that was sinking with seven people aboard off Freeport. They called and reported they were taking on water and then contact was lost. In addition to sending a helicopter to medevac the diabetic man, the watchstanders had an airplane from Corpus Christi diverted from patrol, organized a good Samaritan nearby and six offshore supply vessels to head toward the sinking boat and they launched a rescue boat and Coast Guard Cutter from Station Freeport to search for the seven people assumed to be in the water.

Once closer to shore, the boat radioed in that they had stopped the flooding, but lost long range communications to let the Coast Guard know they were okay.

###

Date: Feb 20, 2016

Public Affairs Detachment Texas

Contact: Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Kendrick

Office: (281) 464-4810

Mobile: (832) 293-1293

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.

The United States Coast Guard — Proud History. Powerful Future.

Share this article

Navigation Center Website Survey Request

We are eager to understand the primary reason for your visit to the Navigation Center website and how you use it, whether for recreational boating, professional purposes, data requests, educational reasons, or otherwise. Your feedback on the website’s ease of use, ability to find information, and if it’s your primary source for navigation-related information is crucial. We are committed to improving your experience and welcome any suggestions to enhance the site’s usability, information accessibility, and overall efficiency. Your insights are invaluable in helping us better meet your navigation needs.

Survey: Navigation Center Website Feedback Survey (surveymonkey.com)

U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center Website Customer Feedback Survey Privacy Notice

Authority: 14 U.S.C. §504; 14 U.S.C §505; and Executive Order 12862.

Purpose: To collect data that will be used to analyze and determine the kind and quality of services customers want and expect, as well as their satisfaction with U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center services. To maintain confidentiality, respondents are advised not to include any personally identifiable information in their responses.

Routine Uses: This survey solicits information that the Coast Guard will use to gauge feedback and improve overall customer service. DHS/ALL/PIA-069 DHS Surveys, Interviews, and Focus Groups provides coverage for this collection.