ATLANTIC CITY — A crew from Air Station Atlantic City were sent to make a trip down the east coast to help save a boat captain suffering a medical emergency.

According to the Coast Guard the call came into the 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth Virginia from the 75-foot trawler Capt. Nathan which was located 50 miles east of Chincoteague Virginia. The Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba and the Dolphin helicopter were dispatched to the scene where the cutter made contact with the boat.

The three member crew told responders that the captain was suffering "symptoms of a stroke," according to the Coast Guard. He was airlifted by the helicopter and taken to Cape May Airport. A second helicopter then took the man to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City.

"The quick actions and critical thinking of all Coast Guard units and the crew of the fishing boat resulted in locating the mariner and bringing him to the medical care he needed as quickly as possible," Petty Officer 1st Class Joe Watford said. "Cases like this prove why mariner's should keep a properly registered EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon) onboard their vessel."

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Contact reporter Adam Hochron at 609-359-5326 or Adam.Hochron@townsquaremedia.com

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