The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.) — The Coast Guard along with local agencies medically evacuated a 45-year-old man from the commercial tug Saint John in Pine Island Sound near marker 41 Monday. John Soulet, 45, from Pensacola, Fla., was subsequently pronounced deceased by Lee County EMS.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a VHF radio call at approximately 11:30 a.m., from the captain of the commercial tug Saint John, stating that one of his crewmembers was unconscious.
At 11:40 a.m., Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach launched a 33-foot special purpose craft boat crew to the scene.
Once on scene at approximately 12:08 p.m., Coast Guard crewmembers transferred the man onto their vessel and immediately began administering CPR.
The man was transported to South Seas Plantation Marina near Captiva Island, Fla., where emergency medical personnel from Captiva Fire Rescue, Sanibel Fire Rescue, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Lee County EMS were waiting.
The incident is under investigation.
