Coast Guard aircrew rescues injured boat near Monterey Tuesday

A Coast Guard aircrew rescued an injured boater from his vessel Tuesday night, approximately 35 miles southwest of Monterey.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector command center in San Francisco were notified around 9:30 p.m. that the operator of a 42-foot sailboat had fallen and hit his head. The man had not requested to be medically evacuated, however.

Coast Guard watchstanders advised him to stop traveling toward San Diego and return to Monterey.

Radio communications with the operator were later lost prompting the launch of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin aircrew from Air Station San Francisco and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Monterey.

Eventually, the aircrew reached the scene and lowered a rescue swimmer, who determined the boat operator’s condition was deteriorating. High seas and strong winds prevented the helicopter from being able to lift the man directly from the boat. Instead, the rescue swimmer had to take the man into the water to safely hoist him up to the helicopter.

The man was taken to Monterey Regional Airport, where he was reportedly in stable condition.

Another person remained aboard the sailboat but was unable to safely operate it by himself, so Coast Guard officials said the boat was being towed back to Monterey Wednesday.