U.S. Coast Guard crews medevaced two men after they were struck by a pressurized object and suffered injuries aboard a tank ship about 20 miles off the Texas Point Wildlife Refuge Wednesday afternoon (Dec21, 2016).
Crude Oil Tanker United Ambassador - Image courtesy: vovashap/shipspotting
The crew of the tanker United Ambassador contacted Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur watchstanders, who alerted Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders at 2:35 p.m., reporting a 24-year-old man was struck in the head by a pressurized part causing bleeding and unconsciousness and a 42-year-old man’s nose was broken. At approximately 2:45 p.m., watchstanders diverted an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Houston and launched a 45-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Sabine.
Once on scene, the helicopter and boat crews assessed the situation and decided to transfer the man with the head injury to the helicopter and the man with the broken nose was transferred to the response boat.
The 24-year-old was taken to Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital and was reportedly breathing but unconscious and the second man was taken to Coast Guard Station Sabine where EMS took him to The Medical Center of Southeast Texas in stable condition.
Source: USCG