OCEAN CITY, Md. (WBOC/AP)- Rescuers air lifted the captain of a cargo ship off a vessel near the Maryland coast Tuesday after the man began experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The Panamanian-flagged cargo ship was about 25 miles (40 kilometers) off the coast of Ocean City around 10:20 a.m. when crew members contacted the Delaware Bay command center to tell them the 61-year-old Filipino captain was showing signs of a possible heart attack and needed medical assistance, the agency said in a statement.
The Coast Guard launched an aircrew from an Atlantic City, New Jersey, air station to retrieve the man as the ship was headed to the Delaware Bay area, the statement said. He was transported by helicopter to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md., for treatment.
The man's identity and an update on his condition were not given.
"We are glad that they contacted us as soon as possible," said Petty Officer 1st Class Will Lengyel, watchstander during the case. "The speedy notification helped us quickly get the captain the level of care he needed."
