Coast Guardsmen from Station Ketchikan medevaced a man experiencing stroke-like symptoms from his yacht at sea on June 9.
The 86-year-old man contacted the Sector Juneau command center at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday morning reporting intense pain and partial paralysis aboard the 55-foot yacht Graceful Lady, registered in San Diego, according to the Coast Guard. Seas were at 1 foot, with no wind and light rain.
Servicemembers and volunteer paramedics aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium arrived at the yacht at approximately 6:05 a.m., according to the Coast Guard.
“We have an excellent partnership with South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department and we’re proud to have worked together to get this man to the care he needed as quickly as possible this morning,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Isaak Linkous, one of the boat crew, in a news release.
The victim was transferred ashore to emergency medical services personnel in Ketchikan.
A second Coast Guard vessel and crew was dispatched to tow the yacht, which had three inexperienced crew aboard, into Ketchikan, according to the Coast Guard.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
