The Coast Guard transported five injured boaters to the hospital after being located 23 nautical miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana on Sunday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a Mayday call on VHF-FM Channel 16 at 12:03 a.m. from a boater, stating they had struck a decommissioned rig, and multiple persons on board had suffered injuries.
Watchstanders directed the launch of a Response Boat – Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Venice and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans.
The Air Station New Orleans aircrew hoisted two patients, one suffering a broken leg and the other suffering a broken arm and possible collapsed lung. The aircrew transferred the patients to University Medical Center New Orleans in unknown condition.
The Station Venice boatcrew medevaced three patients with minor injuries and transferred them to waiting emergency medical services at Station Venice. The patients were reported to be in stable condition.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
