Coast Guard medevacs man from yacht near Ketchikan

The man was experiencing stroke-like symptoms.

Coast Guard Station Ketchikan crew members, Petty Officer 3rd Class Corben Hill (left) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Caleb Hoskins work a tow line for a yacht near Ketchikan, after another Ketchikan crew medevaced the yacht’s captain June 9, 2021. The earlier boat crew worked with paramedics from South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department to transport the 86-year-old yacht captain to EMS on shore, after he experienced stroke symptoms. (Fireman George Haver / USCG)

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.

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“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.