A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a sailor in medical distress from a container ship off the San Francisco coast on Saturday night, Oct. 31, the Coast Guard said.
A ship racing toward shore
Coast Guard Sector San Francisco was notified around 11 a.m. Saturday that a 53-year-old crew member aboard the container ship Ever Elite needed medical help. At the time, the ship was about 225 miles offshore, CBS News Bay Area reported, too far for a helicopter. Over the course of the day, the ship steamed more than 190 miles toward San Francisco. Watchstanders also used the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) system to find commercial ships nearby that could help.
The hoist
Shortly after 10 p.m., an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco reached the ship, then about 34 miles offshore. A C-27 Spartan aircraft from Air Station Sacramento provided overwatch. Coast Guard video shows a crew member being lowered to the deck before the man was hoisted, SFist reported.
He was flown to Air Station San Francisco, where emergency medical crews were waiting, and taken to Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center. His name was not released.
"This rescue highlights the coordination and teamwork of our Coast Guard members during maritime search and rescue operations, as well as the critical role the AMVER system plays in saving lives," said Lt. Cmdr. Alexander Rodgers, the Coast Guard's search and rescue mission coordinator.
Related: Good Samaritan, Coast Guard rescue three from burning boat off Stinson Beach.