USCG Medevacs Injured Chinese Sailor off Puerto Rico

An injured Chinese crewmember was medevaced from the bulk carrier Bunum Hero on April 10 off Puerto Rico, according to the US Coast Guard.

The 20-year-old seafarer sustained multiple broken bones and a head injury after falling from a crane onboard the vessel.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received the medevac request from the Panamanian-flagged ship at 5 p.m., local time, on Monday. Bunun Hero was sailing to Europe and approximately 525 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico, outside the range of responding rescue helicopters, when it reported the incident.

Sector San Juan watchstanders requested the Bunun Hero head towards Puerto Rico to shorten the distance for the medevac.

A helicopter crew rendezvous with the 587-foot bulk carrier on Tuesday night some 175 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico to medevac the Chinese seafarer.

The patient was hoisted onboard and transported to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Emergency Medical Service personnel transported him to a hospital for treatment.