Staff Report —
The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced two mariners who suffered burns in a vessel fire Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 9, according to a press release issued late Tuesday by the Coast Guard.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Virginia Command Center were alerted to the vessel fire at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast to which a good samaritan responded and retrieved the two men from the water after the mariners had abandoned ship because of the fire.
Coast Guard Cutter Dependable arrived on the scene and the crew safely transferred the two mariners aboard the cutter.
Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City launched an MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew to the scene and successfully medevaced the mariners to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where they are being treated for injuries. (Click here for video of the medevac.)
“The coordination between Coast Guard assets and the good sam who retrieved the two individuals from the water was critical in the life saving aspect of this case,” said Lt. Cmdr. Erica Elfguinn, the search and rescue mission coordinator for this case, in a press release. “The active participation of others on the water is essential to keeping our waterways safe.”
This story was updated at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, with video of the helicopter medevac.
