A badly injured Chinese seafarer has been airlifted from a Wisdom Marine Lines’ handysize bulker off the US island off Puerto Rico.
The 20-year-old crewmember had sustained multiple broken bones and a head injury after falling from a crane onboard the 37,800-dwt Bunun Hero (built 2015).
The Bunun Hero was transiting on a voyage to Europe and about 525 nautical miles northeast of Puerto Rico, outside the range of responding rescue helicopters, when the captain of the ship reported the incident to the US Coast Guard (USCG).
USCG watchstanders in s ector San Juan requested that the Bunun Hero head towards Puerto Rico to shorten the distance for the medevac.
A USCG helicopter crew in Great Inagua, Turks and Caircos flew to Air Station Borinquen in Puerto Rico in anticipation of the ship’s arrival.
The helicopter later met with the Bunun Hero and lowered their rescue swimmer, along with a rescue basket, to stabilize the injured ship’s crewmember.
He was then hoisted aboard the aircraft with the assistance of the ship’s crew and transported to the Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Emergency Medical Service personnel received the patient and transported him to the Centro Medico Hospital for treatment, the USCG confirmed.
