Coast Guard Medevacs Man Involved In Diving Accident

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — The Coast Guard medevaced a 49-year-old man Thursday, Aug. 16, from a fishing boat 70 miles north west of Anclote Key.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a distress call via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 at 9:25 a.m. from a crew member aboard the 25-foot fishing boat, Awesome Angler. The crew member reported that Sean Haas, 49. suffered from a diving-related illness and needed emergency assistance.

A flight surgeon from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater recommended Haas be medevaced and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from the air station was launched.

An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Clearwater was diverted to assist with communications and crew members aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Station St. Petersburg also launched to assist.

The Jayhawk aircrew arrived at 11:05 a.m., hoisted Haas and medevaced him to Florida Hospital Orlando.

Video via Coast Guard

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