USCG medevaced a 20-year-old crew member from the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier ‘Bunun Hero’, after he fell from a crane onboard, while the ship was underway in the Atlantic Ocean, Tuesday night.
The vessel was approximately 525 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico, when the captain reported the incident for the Chinese crewmember, who sustained multiple broken bones and a head injury.
USCG Sector San Juan watchstanders requested the Bunun Hero head towards Puerto Rico to shorten the distance for the medevac.
Sector San Juan watchstanders dispatched the MH-60 helicopter crew that met with the Bunun Hero and lowered their rescue swimmer, along with a rescue basket, to stabilize the injured crewmember. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft crew also launched from Air Station Borinquen to provide air support during the medevac.
The Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the patient onboard with the assistance of the ship’s crew and transported the patient to the Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Emergency Medical Service personnel received the patient and transported him to the “Centro Médico” Hospital for treatment.
