The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(PASCAGOULA, Miss.) — A 42-year-old Russian national crewmember was medevaced by the Coast Guard from a petroleum tank ship 10 miles off the southeast end of the Pascagoula Anchorage, Monday.
The 803-foot Marshall Islands-flagged Overseas Beryl contacted Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., watchstanders on VHF-FM channel 16 at 4:20 p.m., reporting that a crewmember sustained second-degree burns to his legs and his hand after reportedly performing maintenance on a boiler.
A Coast Guard Station Pascagoula 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crew launched and transferred the man aboard. The boatcrew transported him to awaiting emergency medical personnel at Station Pascagoula, who transported him to Singing River Hospital.
"Communication was critical in this case, since one of our watchstanders can speak Russian and was able to translate his condition to facilitate his immediate medical attention," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Powers, a coxswain for Station Pascagoula. "With a combination of exact translation and the enhanced capabilities of the 45-footer, we were able to identify other serious burns and adjust speed more effectively to provide a comfortable ride."
His condition is unknown.
