A 27-year-old man is recovering at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital after falling 16-feet while on a commercial cargo ship.
The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced the sailor from a1060-foot bulk carrier more than 46 miles west of San Luis Obispo Friday.
According to officials, the captain of the motor vessel Hyundai Jupiter contacted 11th Coast Guard District command center watchstanders requesting assistance for the injured passenger.
Watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-27J Spartan aircraft and a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco Forward Operating Base Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to assist.
The fog bank posed challenges for the rescue crew.
"Luckily with all the prior coordination, we were able to shoot the approach through the clouds with a solid radar hit of the large vessel. The coordination between District 11, the vessel and the C-27 overhead was crucial in finding the vessel," Lt. Kristin Euchler, the MH-65 Dolphin co-pilot for this rescue said. "The teamwork from all watchstanders and the vessel allowed for accurate fuel planning and success of the rescue window for the patient."
The condition of the sailor is unknown.
