CG medevacs 5 ‘May Day’ boaters

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard medically evacuated five injured boaters April 29 after the vessel struck a decommissioned rig some 20 miles southeast of Venice, La., in the Gulf of Mexico. The “May Day” call came in just after midnight. CG Station Venice launched a response boat. CG Air Station New Orleans launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to the site. The helicopter hosted two patients aboard, and transferred the duo to University Medical Center New Orleans. The response boat crew took the remaining three boaters and transferred them to an awaiting emergency medical vehicle at CGS Venice. The cause of the incident is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 04/29/17)