Fisherman Medevaced Near Columbia River Entrance with Head Injury

Posted in Fishing Vessel Accidents,Washington Maritime News on September 25, 2012

The Coast Guard crews from Sector Columbia River over the weekend were forced to medevac a crew member of a commercial fishing vessel who had suffered a serious head injury while working.

According to the Coast Guard report, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a call at approximately 8:35 p.m. on Friday from the 52-foot F/V Melville reporting that a crew member had fallen and sustained a serious head injury approximately 90 miles west of the Columbia River entrance.

The Coast Guard sent a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to assist and, with the help of a rescue swimmer, hoisted the injured man to the helicopter and transported him to Air Station Astoria in Warrenton, Ore., where he was placed in the care of local EMS and transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria.

The incident highlights the everyday dangers faced by crews working aboard fishing vessels.  In fact, in the United States the fatality rate of fisherman is 25-30 times higher than the national average with 160 deaths per 100,000 persons. Yikes.