SJCFR responds to injured fisherman at sea

SJCFR Public Education and Information Officer Jeremy Robshaw reported to Historic City News this afternoon that St. Johns County Fire Rescue (SJCFR) and the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office (SJCSO) responded to a reported injury on board a commercial fishing vessel at approximately 8:45 a.m. today.

St. Johns County resources were notified by the US Coast Guard of an emergency call from a vessel located approximately 5 miles off the St. Johns County Coast. The vessel reported that one fisherman on the boat had sustained a serious leg injury after becoming entangled in a mechanical winch used to haul fishing nets.

SJCFR Special Operations personnel responded to the Vilano Boat Ramp and were met by the SJCSO boat and personnel. Fire Rescue personnel boarded the SJSCO boat and began responding to the vessel.

Upon arrival at the vessel SJCFR crews boarded the vessel, assessed and stabilized the patient.

Due to the size and height of the commercial vessel, SJCFR had to construct a lowering device in order to move the patient to the rescue boat. Special Operations personnel utilized a backboard and harness to secure the patient, and a basic pulley system to raise and lower the patient safely to the rescue boat.

Once safely aboard the SJCSO rescue boat, the patient was transported to shore and flown via air ambulance to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville with serious injuries.