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Press Release | July 14, 2025

Coast Guard medevacs 77-year-old man 138 miles southwest of Sanibel Island

Public Affairs Detachment Tampa Bay - 305-607-6347

Editor’s Note: Find all U.S. Coast Guard Southeast imagery on Dvids 

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater aircrew medevaced a 77-year-old man, Sunday, experiencing stroke-like symptoms approximately 138 miles southwest of Sanibel Island. 

The man was safely transported to Gulfcoast Medical Center for a higher level of care.  

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a phone call at 7:33 p.m. from the owner of Honey Bee, a commercial fishing vessel, reporting the captain was experiencing a medical emergency. 

Watchstanders coordinated the launch of an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew. Air Station Miami launched an HC-144 aircrew for communication assistance due to the distance from shore.  

“The interoperability of our units is paramount to our success during long-distance operations,” said Chief Petty Officer Jean Latimer, an operations specialist assigned to Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “Through the coordination of both our aircrews and our watchstanders at the command center we were able to get this fisherman the care he needed.” 

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-USCG- 

USCG Coast Guard medevac clearwater Sanibel Island

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